Judge Russell WalkerIn a small provincial court, you all chip in, so Judge Walker sits in the Family Court and Youth Court as well as the adult criminal court.
“You might sit in the criminal court on a Monday and the Family Court on the Tuesday,” he says. “Frequently, we have people in both jurisdictions one after the other and they get quite a surprise to see the same person they saw yesterday in the criminal court when they turn up for their Family Court matter.”
Judge Walker moved to Invercargill from Palmerston North when he joined the bench in 2019; he is now a poster child for the city, he says. “I love it.”
Being a Family Court judge can provide a useful broader perspective. “You know what’s happening to people facing criminal charges who have family disputes. And a lot of the young people I see in the Youth Court also have Family Court files.”
Family Court judges are looking for the right solution to a problem and it’s not always the tried-and-tested one, says Judge Walker. “You’ve got to be thinking all the time about what’s going to work for the individual or this particular family. It’s not one size fits all.”
This website explains many of the things you might want to know if you are coming to the Youth Court, or just wondering how the Youth Court works.
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Ministry of Justice website with information on family issues including about going to court, forms and other times when you may need help.
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For information about courts and tribunals, including going to court, finding a court & collection of fines and reparation.
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On this site you will find information about our Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court including recent decisions, daily lists and news.
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