Suspension delays Millie Elder hearing

Millie Elder. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The suspension of high-profile lawyer Chris Comeskey has delayed a hearing for Paul Holmes' daughter Millie Elder on drugs charges.

Elder was due to have a defended hearing in Auckland District Court today on charges of possession of cannabis, possessing methamphetamine, possessing utensils and obstructing police.

But the suspension of Mr Comeskey by the Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal in July means she will need to find a new lawyer.

Mr Comeskey was suspended for nine months, had his legal aid contract cancelled, ordered to pay costs of $66,397 to the New Zealand Law Society, and ordered to engage a mentor before he resumed practice.

He had admitted professional misconduct charges, including billing the Legal Services Agency for thousands of dollars for court appearances he never made and misleading the Court of Appeal.

Mr Comeskey's former junior, Andrew Comeskey, told the court Elder had received legal aid and that as part of Mr Comeskey's penalty his firm was not able to take on any legal aid clients.

This meant Elder needed a new lawyer and that her scheduled defended hearing could not proceed today.

She was remanded at large until October.

- NZPA