NZ Law – Supreme Court Denies Former Lawyer Davina Reid Reinstatement

Davina

New Zealand Lawyer Not Reinstated

The Supreme Court of New Zealand has denied former lawyer Davina Reid’s latest attempt to be reinstated as a barrister and solicitor marking the final chapter in Reid’s prolonged effort to regain her legal status after being struck off in 2015.

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Reid’s disbarment arose from a 2011 incident where she smuggled contraband, including cigarettes and an iPhone, into prison for her client, Liam James Reid. Liam Reid was serving a life sentence with a 23-year non-parole period for the rape and murder of Emma Agnew in Christchurch in 2007.

The relationship between Davina Reid and Liam Reid became a professional relationship leading to their marriage at Paremoremo Prison in June 2017.

Since 2023, Reid has pursued various legal avenues to regain her status as a barrister and solicitor. Her applications were consistently rejected, first by a tribunal, then by the High Court in August 2023, and subsequently by the Court of Appeal.

In her final bid, Reid sought leave to appeal directly to the Supreme Court. She aimed to introduce arguments related to te Tiriti o Waitangi and Māori tikanga, asserting that she had faced discrimination. However, the Supreme Court determined that Reid’s case was not an appropriate vehicle for considering tikanga issues and found no evidence of a miscarriage of justice.

The Supreme Court’s decision effectively closes the door on Reid’s attempts to return to legal practice, at least for the foreseeable future. Throughout her appeals, Reid has maintained a belief in Liam Reid’s innocence, a stance that has been noted in previous court proceedings.

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