2019 AGM and Bar Dinner
This year's Annual General Meeting will be held at Rydges Hotel, Federal Street (behind the Auckland District Court) on Friday 29 March 2018 at 5.30pm.
The AGM will be followed by a Bar DInner on the Rooftop Terrace. The Guest Speaker is Professor Mark Henaghan.
2018 was an interesting year for the Criminal Bar Association with a new government's openness to change in respect of justice policy. 2019 looks to be just as interesting with the Court of Appeal reconsidering the implications of the Sentencing Act.
The CBA's success in the past few years has been the result of an excellent and hardworking executive. It is involved in significant matters of concern to the criminal bar. It is one of only two organisations that is independent of the New Zealand Law Society and able to criticise government policy. The interest in the CBA is reflected in the continued contested elections for the Executive Committee, which demonstrates that the Association is a national organisation that serves the interests of the whole criminal bar with its committee being representative of the criminal bar both geographically and in terms of spheres of interest.
Committee members who are out of Auckland can attend meetings by telephone but there will be at least 3 meetings with all executive members present with the Association paying for the travel of committee members. If you have an interest in trying to make a difference please put your name forward as a candidate for the executive.
Please note you must be a current financial member of the Association to be eligible to nominate, second a candidate, or stand for office. You must also be a CBA member to access discounted pricing for the dinner and other CBA events. Click here to join or renew your membership.
Any person is also free to nominate himself/herself. Nominations should be accompanied by a photograph and a brief biography/statement of the nominated candidate. Nominations must be submitted online no later than midday on Wednesday 13 March 2019.
Click here to nominate a candidate
Please feel free to arrive at Rydges from 5pm for drinks. The AGM proper will commence at 5.30pm. The AGM will conclude by 6.30pm. There is no cost to attend the AGM.
We look forward to your presence and participation.
Bar Dinner: Guest Speaker Professor Mark Henaghan
The Bar Dinner will be held at the Rooftop Terrace of Rydges Hotel on Friday 29 March 2019, immediately following the AGM. Pre-dinner drinks will be served from 6.30pm. We ask dinner guests to be seated by 7pm.
While Professor Henaghan's primary focus is on family law, he has a keen interest in the operation of the criminal law and is a lively and entertaining speaker.
The cost to attend the dinner is $100 for CBA members or $120 for non members (GST inclusive). Partners are also very welcome to attend at a cost of $120 (GST inclusive).
The dress code is semi-formal. Please note that places for the dinner are limited.
Click here to register for the Bar Dinner
Sentencing Roadshow - February-May 2019 - Various Locations
At the 2018 Annual CBA Conference, Winkelmann J (now Chief Justice) noted that the Court of Appeal had identified the importance of taking a further look at the Sentencing Act 2002. In particular, Her Honour was concerned to assess whether the courts were correct in their current sentencing levels.
Her Honour encouraged the CBA to develop a programme in partnership with academia to examine innovative sentencing arguments. In response, the CBA Roadshow on Sentencing will take place in various dates and locations between 22 February and 24 May this year.
The programme will involve both a lecture and a workshop. The lecture will be given by CBA Executive Committe member and AUT Law Professor, Kris Gledhill. Kris practiced in criminal and prison law at trial and appellate level in London before moving to New Zealand and into academia. He will examine the potential arguments that arise under the Sentencing Act 2002 to challenge the high rates of imprisonment in New Zealand.
The main part of the programme will be a workship based on a series of case studies that will allow people to apply the innovative approaches and also to learn from peers what arguments have been used successfully in analagous situations.
The cost is $75 (incl GST) for CBA members and $200 for non-members. Attendance will secure 3 CPD hours.
Roadshow dates and locations:
22 February Gisborne - 1pm-4pm, Gisborne District Court1 March Wellington - 2.30pm-5.30pm, Wellington District Court, Jury Assembly Room
8 March Nelson - 2pm-5pm, Nelson District Court
15 March Dunedin - 2pm-6pm, Community House, cnr Moray Place/Great King Street, Alexander McMillan Room
22 March Christchurch - 1pm-4pm, Christchurch District Court, Courtroom 4
28 March Napier - 2pm-5pm, Shed 2 on the Quay, Ahuriri
29 March Central Auckland - 2pm-5pm, Rydges Hotel, Federal Street
5 April Hamilton - 1pm-4pm, Hamilton District Court, Jury Assembly Room
10 May Rotorua - 1pm-4pm, Rotorus District Court, Jury Assembly Room
15 May South Auckland - 1pm-4pm, Offices of Kayes Fletcher Walker, MIT Building, cnr Davies Ave/Manukau Station Road
17 May Whanganui - venue TBC
24 May Whangarei - venue TBC
Comments from first Gisborne Roadshow: Kris' lecture and the ensuing discussion were relevant, interesting, informative and thought provoking. I would highly recommend it to all criminal lawyers... we had a really good turnout - approximately 90% of Gisborne court lawyers attended.
As a result - a new session has been added in Napier/Hatings on 28 March - see above.
Click here to register for the Roadshow
Annual CBA Conference - Auckland, 3-4 August 2019
Once again we are gearing up for our annual conference. As always, there will be a stellar lineup of speakers (both local and international), great food and drink, outstanding professional development and wonderful collegiality.
The venue will be the University of Auckland and the Conference Dinner will be at the Langham Hotel. More details coming soon. Early bird registrations will be open from mid-April.
In the meantime, please save the date and book your flights!!