Youth Justice and Representing Youth Clients
Representing children and young people who have or are alleged to have committed an offence can be tough. To best represent them it is vital that you have a firm understanding of the core issues of their case and the underlying factors that contribute to offending. Join our experienced panel who will discuss how to approach a youth justice matter and the related issues. WEB223NZA51
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD hours
The Youth Justice Committee
- The Youth Justice committee
- My role on that committee and introduction of Judge Walker
Presented by Dale Lloyd, Principal, Lloyd Troon Law
Insights from the Bench
His Honour Judge John Walker, The District Court of New Zealand
The Role of the Youth Advocate
- The role of the Youth Advocate before the FGC
- The role of the Youth Advocate at the FGC including, but not limited to ensuring client is properly treated, that the Coordinator doesn`t give out legal advice, and overall ensuring a fair process.
Presented by John Sandston, Barrister, Resolution Chambers
The Role of The Victim at an FGC
I have been a Youth Advocate since 1989 and in 2021 I had the opportunity to view the FGC process through the eyes of a victim.
- Role of the victim at an FGC
- How did it feel being a victim in the FGC process
- Things that helped & things that didn’t go well
- The role of the Youth Advocate when a victim is present
- Key take home messages
Presented by Kristy O`Connor, Partner, Weston Ward and Lascelles
Learning Objectives:
- Receive practical guidance on representing youth and youth justice issues
Presenters
Kristy O`Connor
Kristy (Ngati Hauiti) graduated in 1985 and was admitted to the bar in 1986. Kristy began working at Weston Ward & Lascelles that year and became the first female partner in 1991. She continues to lead the litigation team. For the past 36 years, Kristy has been a litigator, initially specialising in criminal and family law. She has restricted her specialty to Family and Youth Court in the latter years. Kristy was appointed as a youth advocate in 1989 and has practised as a youth advocate continuously since that time. Kristy is also a lawyer for child. Kristy is the past chair of Law Alliance New Zealand Limited. She has been involved in many community organisations over the years. At present, she is on the Management and Finance board of the Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, which is overseeing the rebuilding of schools, churches, and infrastructure within the Canterbury region
John Sandston
John graduated in 1987 with an LLB (Hons) from Canterbury University and was admitted to the Bar that year. He worked for 6 years as a Crown Prosecutor and tutor in Criminal Law in Christchurch, and subsequently as defence counsel and a Crown Panel Prosecutor in Nelson. He has been a member of the NZ Law Society`s Criminal Law Committee, the Inaugural Chair of the Youth Justice Committee, and was invited and assisted the Law Society with submissions to the Law Commission on the reform of the law of evidence that led to the Evidence Act 2006.
Dale Lloyd
Dale is the current Chair of the Youth Justice Committee, and has for the last 16 years has represented young persons in court and in pre-court conferences. She has been a legal adviser to families and business owners throughout the South Island for over 20 years. Dale specialises in youth and family law is a Ministry of Justice appointed Lawyer for the Child, a Youth Advocate, and is currently a Trustee on the Te Kura Whakatip o Kawarau School Board of Trustees. Dale believes the measure of her success as a lawyer is making a difference for her client. She is passionate about facilitating sustainable positive change for young people, their whanau and community.
His Honour Judge John Walker
His Honour Judge Walker is the Principal Youth Court Judge for New Zealand and was appointed to that position in July 2016. Judge Walker was born in Ireland and immigrated to New Zealand with his family at the age of three. He was educated at Palmerston North Boys High School, Massey University and Victoria University. Graduating with an LLB in 1975, Judge Walker practised in Palmerston North to 1985. He then moved to Wellington, where he became a partner in Macalister Mazengarb and then worked as a Barrister Sole at Harbour Chambers, with his main areas of practice being medico-legal law, resource management, civil law and employment law. Judge Walker was appointed to the District Court bench in 1994 with a jury trial warrant and Youth Court and Civil Court designations.
Since his appointment to the bench, Judge Walker has been involved in a number of roles relating to judicial administration and courts reform. In 1999, Judge Walker developed and promoted a Youth Court response to drug and alcohol dependant young persons, which led to the development of the Youth Drug Court Pilot for Christchurch. He was Presiding Judge in the Youth Drug Court for the first three years of its operation (2002 – 2005). In 2002, he was engaged by the Chief Judge to develop District Court interventions for drug dependant adult offenders. Judge Walker has been involved in judicial education through the Institute of Judicial Studies, and in studying the interface between courts and health agencies (through the Gary Harrison Fellowship). From mid 2009 through to 2016 he worked on developing Porirua District Court into a court connected with the community it serves (in line with the community justice centre model), and on mainstreaming solution-focused court practice. Since 2014 he has also been extensively involved in developing District Court responses to family violence. Judge Walker has held a number of senior administrative and advisory positions including Executive Judge for Wellington (2004 - 2010), Specialised Regional Youth Court Judge for Wellington (2007 – 2010) and Advisory Member on the NZLS Continuing Legal Education Board (until 2007). Judge Walker was also appointed as Acting Chief District Court Judge and Acting Principal Youth Court Judge at various points from 2009 to 2014. Judge Walker has acted on a number of committees including the District Court Management Committee (until January 2010); the Criminal Practice Committee (2005 – 2010), the Principal Youth Court Judge’s Advisory Group from 2008 to present; the Chief Judge’s Kaupapa Māori Advisory Group; the International Framework for Court Excellence Committee; the Police Family Violence Change Programme External Steering Group and the New Zealand member on the Asia Pacific Council for Juvenile Justice. In his spare time, Judge Walker enjoys pursuing his interests in restoration of classic cars, architecture, fly fishing, gardening, woodworking, blacksmithing, photography, and many other distractions.