It is important that judges face criticism―but not attacks like those on the judges who decided the Brexit case
Read MoreLaw
They said I'd better take anything they'd got
A couple of interesting developments - one on the other side of the world and one here at home. Turns out that the UK's Parliament is still sovereign (who knew?). And I think Gareth Morgan should be given more praise than scorn for wanting to inject some thinking into New Zealand's political scene.
Read MoreKris Faafoi is no fun and I'm not playing with him anymore
Sing me to sleep
The real scandal isn't that the Police set up a (probably) illegal drink driving checkpoint to get the names of elderly people interested in exercising control over the circumstances of their own death. It's that our law doesn't allow such people an option without having the Police stick their noses in to it.
Read MorePolitics ... coming soon to a screen near you
The Court of Appeal's decision on the Planet Key's legal status means that we are likely to see and hear a lot more political advertising. And it also renders the Government's just announced reforms of party political broadcasts completely out of date.
Read MoreWhy do the write thing?
The reasons Sir Geoffrey Palmer and Andrew Butler give for their constitution-writing project are not convincing.
Read MoreDesmond Tutu on end of life choice
Desmond Tutu, archbishop emeritus of Cape Town and a Nobel Peace laureate, has some thoughts on a person's right to dignity at the end of life that are worth considering.
Read MoreQuick - to the validating machine!
The Department of Corrections was doing what the courts told it was the law. The courts were wrong about that, so now the Department of Corrections owes prisoners compensation. That's exactly how our law is supposed to work.
Read MoreShut up, Stuart Nash (with added thoughts on the Nikolas Delegat case)
Stuart Nash is trying to make political hay out of Nikolas Delegat's crime and punishment. The problem is, in doing so he's calling for the undermining of New Zealand's constitutional arrangements. That's ... not a good thing.
Read MoreOn the socially contextual nature of treating voters
Meng Foon's giving $20 to a long-time acquaintance is about respect, not corruption.
Read MoreWorser and worser
So, it turns out that we don't just have Nuk Korako to thank for wasting Parliament's time on debating how best to advertise lost property auctions that never get held. National Party MP Jono Naylor and Transport Minister Simon Bridges played their part, too.
Read MoreIf Nuk Korako's Bill is such a good idea, why did no one say so earlier?
Nuk Korako told the House that lots of people had contacted him to praise his proposal to save Airports from having to advertise lost property auctions in their local papers. So just how many of those people earlier told the Government that his proposal was needed?
Read MoreThe only thing stopping you is yourself
Winston Peters says John Key will hold an early election. John Key says he won't. John Key is right - but not for the reasons he says.
Read MoreJust because it's been done before doesn't make it right
Auckland Transport appears to think that selling houses is a more important activity than trying to influence how people may vote. Is this just a sign of the times, or are they simply wrong?
Read MoreI really can't believe I'm having to say this again ...
Nuk Korako either doesn't understand what his own members bill would do, or he is misleading Parliament.
Read MoreC'est pire qu'un crime, c'est une faute.
Nuc Korako's #noluggageleftbehind bill not only doesn't do what he says it is meant to do, but it appears that it will do nothing at all.
Read MoreWorst. Members. Bill. Ever.
Nuk Korako's Airport Authorities (Publicising Lost Property Sales) Amendment Bill doesn't do what it says it is intended to do, doesn't need to be in the form that it is, and is intended purely to prevent other more worthy pieces of legislation from being debated. National's 50th ranked list MP is really proving his worth here.
Read MoreLa Trahison des Clercs
When academics venture into the media to inform the public about their discipline, they have a basic obligation to be accurate in what they say. I'm afraid that Prof. Chris Gallavin has fallen short of this standard.
Read MoreNow the drugs (laws) don't work, they just make you worse
It's not exactly news that our criminal prohibition on possessing marijuana is a really bad policy. But a bunch of news stories this week serve to remind us just how bad it is.
Read MoreMr Big strikes again ...
Tawera Wichman was caught using a "Mr Big" undercover trap. The Supreme Court (narrowly) said that this was OK - but that there are still problems with how the Police can mount such operations. And now I can tell you all this freely and openly.
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