Judges
The NZDF recently marked the biggest change to its military legal system in 25 years, with an official launch held at the Wellington High Court on Thursday 9 July. The swearing in of the Judges for the new Military Judicial System by the Chief Justice was a momentous occasion and an historical moment for the NZDF.
The new Military Justice system has introduced five key changes:
- Summary Trial system operating across all three services
- Right of appeal
- Availability of Summary Trial to all Senior Officers
- Permanent, independent Court Martial to replace the temporary Courts Martial
- Establishment of two new offences of negligence:
- negligently failing to perform a duty imposed by orders, training or custom, and
- negligently performing a duty imposed by orders, training or custom.
Effective from 1 July 2009, the new military justice system came about after a substantial review, with the NZDF committed to having an easier to understand, transparent and, above all, fair system of military justice.