Jevon McSkimming. Photo: RNZ / REECE BAKER
Lawyer Linda Clark will take temporary leave from her role on the TVNZ board of directors while representing former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful police officer last Monday, amid a four-month investigation by the IPCA and police.
RNZ revealed last week pornography found on McSkimming's work computer is being investigated as alleged objectionable material. He declined to comment on the allegations through his lawyer.
On Friday evening, Clark as his lawyer was granted a rare "superinjunction" which prohibited reporting that disclosed the nature of the allegedly objectionable material, as well as the existence of the injunction itself, until 2.15pm on 19 May.
On Monday, Justice Gwyn held a teleconference from the High Court in Wellington to discuss the injunction with Clark, the police, and legal counsel for RNZ, Stuff and NZME.
The order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued, but the one prohibiting reporting on the existence of the injunction was not.
On Tuesday, TVNZ board chairperson Alastair Carruthers confirmed in a statement Clarke would take temporary leave "to protect [her] independence to act for her client, and also TVNZ's potential interest in the matter".
"In this instance there is no current conflict but the potential for a conflict exists," Carruthers said.
Currently, TVNZ was not a named party to the recent injunction, but that might change - the TVNZ newsroom would make the editorial decision whether to join the legal action in due course.
TVNZ's directors were not involved in newsroom decision making, he said. "TVNZ's editorial independence is protected."
He said the board had complete confidence in Clarke's professional judgment, and she had been "scrupulous in her disclosures while maintaining client confidentiality".
