Establishing a Criminal Cases Review Commission
Ross Francis made this Official Information request to Andrew Little
The request was partially successful.
From: Ross Francis
Dear Andrew Little,
Please provide me with copies of all communication you have had with Justice Ministry officials and others in regards to establishing a Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC). The period covered by this request is 19 October 2017 to 31 March 2018 (inclusive). Information includes (but is not limited to) texts, file notes, memos, faxes, letters, emails, Cabinet papers, feedback from interested parties.
When are you anticipating that a CCRC will be established?
In the Ministry's briefing paper to you dated 9 November 2017, the Ministry's chief legal counsel, Jeff Orr, claimed that “[c]ontentious cases like David Bain, Peter Ellis and Rex Haig were referred back to the appeals court as would have occurred if a CCRC had been in force. The existence of a CCRC would not have led to a different outcome”.
Peter Ellis applied for the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in December 1997. His conviction has not been over-turned. In September 1999, Rex Haig’s legal team submitted an application to the Justice Ministry for the Royal prerogative. It would take the criminal justice system almost seven years to quash his conviction. No retrial was ordered. David Bain submitted an application for the Royal prerogative in June 1998. His conviction would eventually be quashed, by the Privy Council in the UK, in May 2007. He was acquitted at his retrial in 2009. Is it your expectation that applicants to the CCRC will have their cases investigated more promptly than those applying for the Royal prerogative? What do you consider to be the benefits of establishing a CCRC?
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
From: A Little Office (MIN)
Andrew Little
Tçnâ koe
Thank you for contacting the office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of
Justice, Minister for Courts, Minister for Treaty of Waitangi
Negotiations, Minister Responsible for the NZSIS, Minister Responsible for
the GCSB and Minister Responsible for Pike River Re-entry.
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Ngâ mihi
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[3][Andrew Little request email] | Web [4]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand
Authorised by Hon Andrew Little MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160,
New Zealand
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From: correspondence, official
Good morning Mr Francis,
Acknowledging receipt of your request for information under the Official Information Act 1982. You can expect a response to your request on or before 28 May 2018.
Kind regards,
Claire
Claire O'Connor
Advisor | Official Correspondence
Communications
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
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From: correspondence, official
Good morning again Mr Francis,
My apologies, please ignore my previous email below. As your request was made directly to the Minister's office you will receive acknowledgement from their office.
Kind regards,
Claire
Claire O'Connor
Advisor | Official Correspondence
Communications
Ministry of Justice | Tāhū o te Ture
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From: A Little Office (MIN)
Andrew Little
Dear Mr Francis
Please see attached letter from Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Justice
and Minister for Courts.
Note that you may require PDF reading software to be installed on your
device in order to open the attachment. You can download free PDF reading
software at [1]www.adobe.com/reader
Private Secretary - Justice and Courts
Office of Hon Andrew Little MP, Minister of Justice, Minister for Courts
Reception +64 4 817 8707 | Ministerial Email
[2][Andrew Little request email] | Web [3]beehive.govt.nz | Postal Freepost
Parliament, Private Bag 18 041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New
Zealand
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2. mailto:[Andrew Little request email]
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