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Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

Miscellaneous provisions - Youth Court

435: Designation of Youth Court Judges

You could also call this:

"Who can be a Youth Court Judge in New Zealand"

Illustration for Oranga Tamariki Act 1989

The Chief District Court Judge chooses District Court Judges to be Youth Court Judges. They do this when the Principal Youth Court Judge recommends it. You can be chosen as a Youth Court Judge if you are a suitable person to deal with Youth Court matters because of your training, experience, and personality. You also need to understand the importance of different cultural perspectives and values. The Chief District Court Judge can stop someone being a Youth Court Judge at any time.

A Family Court Judge can also be a Youth Court Judge. If a Family Court Judge is going to be a Youth Court Judge, the Principal Family Court Judge must agree. This is how the law says Youth Court Judges are chosen, as stated in the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989.

The law was changed on 1 March 2017 by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM155048.

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434: Principal Youth Court Judge, or

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Part 10Miscellaneous provisions
Youth Court

435Designation of Youth Court Judges

  1. The Chief District Court Judge shall, from time to time, on the recommendation of the Principal Youth Court Judge, designate a sufficient number of District Court Judges as Youth Court Judges, and may, from time to time, revoke any such designation.

  2. For the avoidance of doubt, it is hereby declared that a Family Court Judge may be designated as a Youth Court Judge.

  3. A person shall not be designated a Youth Court Judge unless that person is a suitable person to deal with matters within the jurisdiction of the Youth Court by virtue of that person's training, experience, and personality and understanding of the significance and importance of different cultural perspectives and values.

  4. A Family Court Judge shall not be designated as a Youth Court Judge without the concurrence of the Principal Family Court Judge.

Notes
  • Section 435(3): amended, on , by section 261 of the District Court Act 2016 (2016 No 49).