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· The Minister of Justice may request the Law Commission to give priority
to the examination of any aspect of the law of New Zealand (whether or
not included in a programme), and the Law Commission must give that
matter appropriate priority.
Membership and Employees of the Law Commission
211. The Law Commission consists of between 3 and 6 Commissioners, who are
appointed from time to time by the Governor-General on the recommendation of
the Minister of Justice (section 9(1)).
212. The appointment of a Judge as a Commissioner does not affect the Judges
tenure of the judicial office or the Judges rank, title, status, precedence, salary,
allowances, rights or privileges as a Judge (section 10).
213. The President of the Law Commission must be a Judge or retired Judge of the
Court of Appeal or the High Court, or a barrister or solicitor of the High Court of
not less than 7 years' practice (section 9(2)). The President is also the Law
Commissions chief executive. He or she is responsible for supervising and
directing the work of the Law Commission (section 13(1)).
214. A Commissioner may only be removed from office by the Governor-General for
disability, bankruptcy, neglect of duty, or misconduct, proved to the satisfaction
of the Governor-General (section 12(1)). The Government has no other say in
the dismissal of a Commissioner.
215. The remuneration, allowances, and expenses of members of the Law
Commission are fixed by the Higher Salaries Commission (First Schedule,
Clause 1). Again, the Government has no input.
216. The President of the Law Commission is responsible for the appointment, and
the terms and conditions of employment, of all officers and employees of the
Law Commission (First Schedule, clause 2).
217. Under clause 4 of the First Schedule, no Commissioner or employee of the Law
Commission is employed in the service of Her Majesty for the purposes of the
State Services Act 1962 or the Government Superannuation Fund Act 1956.