Judge recuses herself from constitutional lawsuit

A High Court judge has withdrawn from the constitutional lawsuit brought by retired judge Dr Sonia Richards against the State and a former chief justice, citing a conflict of interest.

Justice Shona Griffith, who had been presiding over the case and ruled in July that it should go to trial, recused herself after ordering Dr Richards to re-amend her statement of claim and serve it on Roger Forde, senior counsel for the two defendants.

Justice Griffith indicated that the conflict arose because she had sat on the bench at the same time as Dr Richards, who alleges defamation, negligence and breaches of her constitutional rights.