Petition names not allowed out
By Charles Pitt

Justice Tom Wesson … he
has set rules for petition
hearings.

Justice Tom Weston summoned members of the media to his Chambers on at 3.30pm Friday to set some basic ground rules for reporting on the eight electoral petitions that have been filed.
(Seven by the Cook Islands Party and one by the Democratic Party. See details on page 11 of this Cook Islands Times).
Justice Weston spoke to members of the media individually and told the Times he was allowing the media access to the information in the petitions. He invited copies to be taken and the matters reported as it was in the public interest. However, he advised that he had imposed a suppression order in relation to the names of private individuals, except the names of candidates and the Prime Minister.
It is not permitted to print the names of any private individual connected with the petitions, especially those who will be called as witnesses.
ORDER
Justice Weston said the suppression order was to prevent anyone exerting influence on witnesses and others.
He could not give any indication as to when the hearings were likely to commence. He said he had yet to contact the Chief Justice.
However, he acknowledged the time factor and the need to complete the hearings without undue delay.
In accordance with Justice Weston’s permission, the Times obtained copies of the petitions as relates to the particular grounds for the petitions.
These grounds are already summarized in the article on the interview with Cook Islands Party leader Henry Puna.

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