Friday, October 22, 2010

Why did the Crown settle with Bill Wilson?

There would be only be one reason, because they knew they couldn't win. He'd won his Judicial Review of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner's decision to appoint a special panel to hear the allegations of misconduct against Bill Wilson. They knew they were still in the gun for denying Bill Wilson natural justice so folded up and went home.

Judith Collins was out of line revealing any details that led to a settlement, in particular an earlier 'rejected' offer, hers was a political decision to soften the blow of the fall out she presumed would follow the settlement. She cited pragmatism and future prospective financial costs. The Judicial Conduct Commissioner had made an error of judgement and due process in not letting Bill Wilson know the specifics of what was being alleged against him. Earlier retired Judge Sir Edmund Thomas had made the gravest mistake of all by going public with a 'case' against Bill Wilson which was in fact only an interpretation of what he considered Bill Wilson's 'beholding' position was to a Counsel that appeared for another party before him. Sir Ted's ratcheting up of a phantom financial precipice Bill Wilson was allegedly facing was wrong and based on unwitting assumption. Sir Ted seemed equally unaware or unconcerned of the implication his assumptions held for the counsel Bill Wilson was claimed to be 'beholding' to.

The Judiciary should have been left to sort this out among themselves, if there was anything to sort out at all, and an old Judge who apparently broke a confidence should rue his publicity seeking self-righteous denial of natural justice to Bill Wilson and by doing so the erosion of proper public interest had there been anything of legitimate concern discovered during due process. Bill Wilson is the person most harmed by a storm in a teacup that results in a premature end to his judicial career, and some unfortunate ignominy, for no public or judicial benefit.

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