By JOSIE CLARKE
The media are under fire from Auckland's Law Society for their treatment of the billionaire drug-smuggler case and the judge involved.
In a letter sent to the Herald yesterday, Auckland District Law Society president Bruce Davidson attacked media for their "emotional" cover of the case.
He also defended Judge David Harvey, who discharged the billionaire without conviction and with his name suppressed after he had imported more than 100g of cannabis.
Judge Harvey conducted the case in a perfectly normal and usual way, Mr Davidson wrote in his letter, on society letterhead.
The case had been comprehensively considered in the District and High Courts, and the media risked damaging the trust and respect earned by judges if they continued to pursue the case.
"In some branches of the media, perhaps driven by the needs of ratings or circulation, there has been an emotional and unreasoning approach to this matter which has gone far beyond dispassionate reporting and comment.
"Trial by and within the media - be it newspaper, radio, TV or Internet - is no satisfactory substitute for a proper trial within the court system, conducted in public."
Mr Davidson said few applications were made for name suppression orders, and even fewer were granted.
While name suppression seemed to be at odds with open public justice, it had been part of the legal system for many years and existed for a good purpose.
But Richard Long, the chairman of the New Zealand section of the Commonwealth Press Union and editor of Wellington's Dominion newspaper, said the emotion seemed to be coming more from Mr Davidson.
New Zealand was privileged to have press freedom and an open justice system, he said.
"When both are at risk, all steps will be taken to protect these fundamental tenets, and this is just what the Herald has done with admirable zeal.
"I find it rather surprising that the Auckland District Law Society would enter into this debate when it is obviously a matter between the courts and the newspaper concerned."
Society slams 'trial by media'
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