The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court supports users who want to break their habit. It’s a successful system, so why might it be shut down, asks Paul Little.
Mr J was found asleep at the wheel after crashing into a tree with a half-drunk bottle of whisky in his lap.
He is appearing before the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Court, supported by a public defence lawyer straight out of one of those high-pressure TV legal dramas: he got the file the day before at 4pm and hasn’t met his client yet.
He does know Mr J has seven driving charges to his name, including one for being five times over the limit and driving at more than 40km/h in a school zone around 3pm.
Judge Lisa Tremewan postpones any decision until lawyer and client have met.
Under her steady and focused direction, the whole team continue to work their way efficiently through 30-something case files before lunch.
Read more HERE.
First published at NZHerald.co.nz on 17 Feb 2019.
