The Queen's Counsel designation has been converted to King's Counsel with the crowning of King Charles III
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Chief Justice Dame Helen Winkelmann has unveiled several significant changes in New Zealand’s current court system.
“As a matter of law and constitutional practice, the Crown is never vacant. The new monarch accedes to the throne immediately upon the death of his or her predecessor,” Winkelmann said. “With regard to this, there are a number of changes that flow from the Queen’s death.”
She confirmed that the Queen’s Counsel designation has been converted to King’s Counsel.
“While the appointment to Silk is made under letters patent which are personal to the monarch, section 119B of the Lawyers and Conveyancers Act 2006 provides that if the sovereign for the time being is a King, all references to Queen’s Counsel are to be read as King’s Counsel,” the New Zealand Bar Association said. “Any lawyer who holds the rank of Queen’s Counsel, if he or she wishes, can refer to themselves as King’s Counsel and KC.”
Moreover, criminal cases will now be entitled “The King v X.” Senior court announcements will be amended with references to “King's Judge(s).”
The changes took effect on 9 September; however, the alterations to documentation and processes may take a little longer to implement, Winkelmann explained.
