Teething problems preside at new court

Before it even started, the signs were not good.

Courtrooms survive on a steady supply of people who know what they are doing, but at the first criminal court sitting in Christchurch’s shiny new justice precinct yesterday, uncertainty presided.

Where were the light switches? Were there enough seats? Beside the dock, security guards looked concerned: Where would defendants granted bail be taken? Someone was dispatched to find the person who knew the answer.

District Court 8 looked more like a seminar room than a court. A coat of arms on the wall behind the judge was the only judicial branding, the glass panes of the dock the only sign some people were not there of their own volition.

As 10am neared, the administrative hum died down. The woman in the black T-shirt with ‘‘Ask me a question’’ in large white letters on the back went elsewhere.

By the time Judge Paul Kellar emerged from chambers just after the hour, everything appeared in order.

The first matter to be heard was in closed court, which proved problematic because the mechanism by which the ‘‘closed court’’ sign was affixed to the courtroom door was not working. A temporary solution was fashioned out of masking tape, but it soon gave way and the sign fell off and hit a court staffer. The sign was then banished to lean against the wall behind the registrars’ desk until further notice.

Down to business. If there was any sort of ceremony to mark the opening of a new court, Judge Kellar dispensed with it. Three defendants came and went in short order, before it was time for a 30-minute break to fix IT issues.

‘‘Our first technical adjournment,’’ the judge said.

The dubious honour of the first appearance in open court fell to Zoe Forrester-Webster who, earlier in the day, was alleged to have behaved in a disorderly manner – by knocking over road cones – on Colombo St.

Forrester-Webster, who had declined counsel, leaned forward in the dock, arms behind her back. ‘‘To whom, may I ask please?’’ she said.

No answer. The prosecutor continued. There were other charges in play – arson, threatening behaviour, driving while suspended, wilful damage.

‘‘I want you to see a duty lawyer,’’ Judge Kellar began.

‘‘I understand the . . .’’ Forrester-Webster began.

‘‘Don’t talk back,’’ the judge said quietly. ‘‘I want you to see a duty lawyer, I don’t want you entering a plea today. I’ll remand you on straight bail without plea for the same time as your next [appearance] on the 27th of November at 2pm. ‘‘Stand down, in custody for now, to be bailed.’’

The court was in session.