Top lawyer accused of misleading court

The high-profile criminal lawyer who brokered the return of the Waiouru medals is facing a serious charge of attempting to mislead the court.

Chris Comeskey will appear before the New Zealand Lawyers and Conveyancers Disciplinary Tribunal next month over an alleged breach of his "overriding duty to the court" and the professional conduct rules for barristers and solicitors.

The charge, laid by the New Zealand Law Society, relates to a Court of Appeal hearing for Mr Comeskey's client Xiao Hui Huang.

Details of the charge are suppressed.

Mr Comeskey has denied the charge and told the Weekend Herald that he was gagged by the suppression order, which he wanted lifted so the tribunal hearing could be reported.

"I can't go into the specifics of the defence. But this has been very distressing for me. I've got six kids and better things to do," said Mr Comeskey.

"I just hope that they've got their facts right."

Huang was found guilty of having methamphetamine for supply and conspiring to supply it, after Customs and police found 8kg of drugs, estimated to be worth about $8 million. She was jailed for 12 years.

The Court of Appeal dismissed Huang's appeals against conviction and sentence in March last year and rejected Mr Comeskey's criticisms of the Crown case.

In the decision, Justice John Wild said Mr Comeskey misled the court.

"Optimistic would be a charitable description of the last of Mr Comeskey's submissions. Misleading would perhaps be a more accurate one.

"Need we mention the fundamental importance of counsel accurately stating the position, and being absolutely candid and forthright with the court?"

The Law Society laid the charge on December 18, nine months after the Court of Appeal ruling.

Mr Comeskey will appear in front of tribunal chairman Judge Dale Clarkson and up to six other members on May 18.

The tribunal has the power to fine, suspend or even strike lawyers from the register.

Mr Comeskey was a defence lawyer in a number of recent high-profile cases including Millie Elder on methamphetamine charges, Bruce Emery, who fatally stabbed a teenage tagger, and Nai Yin Xue, who is to stand trial for killing his wife and leaving their daughter in a Melbourne train station.

Mr Comeskey, a former police officer, was also responsible for the return of the 96 medals stolen from the Waiouru Army Museum.

A reward of $300,000 was paid for the return of the medals, which included nine Victoria Crosses.

Two men, aged 41 and 37, were later charged with theft and are in custody awaiting trial.

Police want to interview Mr Comeskey and subpoena him to give evidence in the upcoming trial against his own clients, who have name suppression.

Mr Comeskey has cited lawyer-client privilege to protect him from being questioned.