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Chris Griggs on the APEC 2021 Bill on Behalf of the Law Society

In response to the APEC 2021 Bill currently in Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade select committe, the Law Society have prepared a submission recommending careful consideration of the role of armed forces, APEC security staff and foreign protection officers in the APEC 2021 security operation. Chris Griggs, speaking on behalf of the Law Society, told the committee,

“The bill grants significant coercive powers to members of the armed forces and APEC security staff, and departs from the usual constitutional restriction against using the armed forces to support Police law enforcement.

“If Parliament considers these provisions are necessary for New Zealand to provide adequate security for APEC 2021, the Law Society recommends that appropriate checks and balances are added to the bill, to enable proper public scrutiny of the use of these powers”.

Read the full Law Society article here

Christopher Griggs Appointed as Member of the Veterans Entitlements Appeal Board

The Minister for Veterans has appointed Barristers.Comm member, Christopher Griggs, as a member of the Veterans' Entitlements Appeal Board pursuant to section 241 of the Veterans' Support Act 2014 for a two-year term commencing on 21 April 2019. The function of the Appeal Board is to determine appeals against review decisions made under Part 7 of the Act. The Appeal Board has a range of powers including powers to receive and take evidence, require documents, and summon witnesses. There is a right of appeal to the High Court against a determination of the Appeal Board, but only on a question of law.

Christopher Griggs Appointed as Counsel for The Kosovo Specialist Chambers

The Kosovo Specialist Chambers are part of the judicial system of Kosovo. The Chambers are attached to each level of the Kosovo court system. They were established by a Constitutional Amendment and a Law adopted by the Kosovo Assembly to conduct trials for allegations stemming from a 2011 Council of Europe report, which alleges serious violations of international law.

 The Kosovo Specialist Chambers are of temporary nature with a specific mandate and jurisdiction, namely over certain crimes against humanity, war crimes and other crimes under Kosovo law which allegedly occurred between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2000. The Law allows for the relocation of the proceedings outside Kosovo, and the Specialist Chambers have a seat in The Hague (see image).  They are staffed with international judges, prosecutors and staff. On ANZAC Day, Barristers.Comm member Christopher Griggs was appointed as Counsel on the List of Specialist Counsel and the List of Victims’ Counsel before the Specialist Chambers.

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