Wellington, Sept 1 NZPA - Background to Justice Bill Wilson hearing.

? At stake: The future career and reputation of Supreme Court Judge Bill Wilson who may yet be the first New Zealand judge to face a Judicial Conduct Panel.

? Justice Wilson came to the Court of Appeal straight from private legal practice.

? A year later he was appointed to the Supreme Court.

? The office of the Judicial Conduct Commissioner - an appointment held by Sir David Gascoigne - was established five years ago to deal with complaints about the conduct of judges.

? Because Attorney-General Chris Finlayson previously worked in a law firm with Justice Wilson, acting Attorney-General Judith Collins accepted Sir David's recommendation that a conduct panel should make further inquiries into complaints against the judge.

? This week's High Court hearing at which Justice Wilson is seeking to avoid appearing before the panel cites the Attorney-General as first defendant, the Judicial Conduct Commissioner as second defendant and the Judicial Conduct Panel as third defendant.

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