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Courtrooms are becoming increasingly dangerous, lawyers say, as calls for better security ramp up.
In March 2023 Family Court lawyer Brintyn Smith was brutally attacked in the Whangārei courthouse lift, leaving him with multiple injuries, including a fractured sternum, nose and thyroid, extensive bruising to the face and a concussion.
In May a lawyer was attacked in the Levin courthouse, and in early September an Auckland barrister waiting in a corridor at the Auckland District Court was punched to the ground, kicked in the head and stomped on.
The Law Association says many lawyers are fearful of attacks, due to the rising number of unpredictable and unruly people coming through the court system and the physical design of most courthouses that offers little to no protection.
Julie-Anne Kincade KC, recently helped organise a security and safety induction for lawyers and court staff at the Auckland District Court, and says many there voiced strong concerns about critical yet easily fixable issues.
Julie-Anne is also the Vice-President at The Law Association and Convenor of its Criminal Law Committee.
