New Zealand Law Society Should Be Renamed Criminal Leniency Society

28th July 2016

“The Law Society has turned its back on the law abiding majority of New Zealanders and is instead writing in support of child sex offenders and serious offenders” says Neville Pettersson.

In October 2015 the Law Society (NZLS) criticised the Child Protection (Child Sex Offender Register) Bill, citing it unfairly infringed upon the freedoms and civil liberties of child sex offenders. The NZLS maintained this stance in their submission on the Child Sex Offender Name Change Bill. Finally, last week’s submission by the NZLS on the Clean Slate petition also supported broadening the eligibility of offenders for Clean Slate.

“What organisation representing the rule of law and justice in New Zealand can legitimately oppose something called the Child Protection Bill? This Law Society is becoming a Tui Billboard, but not a funny one” says Pettersson.

The purpose of the NZLS is outlined in the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006, s65, which is to uphold the rule of law and make sure that justice is being served. This includes law reform. The NZLS website specifically states that, “The Law Society's Law Reform Committee, with assistance from the specialist committees and the Sections, prepares submissions on behalf of the legal profession and in the public interest.”

Pettersson replies, “How does overtly supporting paedophiles and serious offenders, who are the minority in our society, benefit the public interest? I mean, these guys are all lawyers right, didn’t they swear and oath to protect us? Why the heck are they fighting for minority offenders rights?”

The Sensible Sentencing Trust has previously responded to the Law Society’s opposition to the proposed Child Protection (Sex Offender Register) Bill. Pettersson has also written in opposition to the NZLS stance on protecting a sex offender’s right to change their name. SST has also just put in a submission, also against the NZLS position, to keep the Clean Slate Act as it is.

Pettersson states, “My challenge to NZLS is to make your next submission on serious offending based on protecting the public interest. Fighting for laws to protect our kids and our communities is difficult enough without having to battle the behemoth of all of New Zealand’s lawyers.”

ENDS

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