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Professor Robin Wickham Palmer

Contact

Department: Faculty of Law

Email: robin.palmer@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3693812

Office: Meremere 325

Language: English

“If they can get you asking the wrong questions, they don't have to worry about the answers.” (Thomas Pynchon).
About
Research / Creative works
Networks
Projects
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Forensic Investigation
  • Clinical Legal Studies
  • Corruption Studies
  • Tax abuses
  • Evidence
  • Trial Advocacy
  • Legal Writing
  • International Criminal Law
  • Procedural Law
  • Transnational Criminal Law
  • Environmental Law
  • Cyberlaw

Researcher Summary

•Forensic Brainwave Analysis (FBA) Projects: Project leader of the multi-university NZLF-funded FBA Project (2018-2019), investigating FBA technology with US  and local ( Police and Corrections) partners.

•Corruption studies: focusing on systemic international  responses: My anti-corruption work has four distinct focuses: One, the  analysis of international  strategies to fund corruption and hide the proceeds of corruption through the use of tax havens, bank secrecy and illicit financial flows (resulting in ab IBA Report on these issues co-authored by me). Two, the potential use of  International Criminal Law (ICL) to counter Grand Corruption.  Three, the international regulation of civilian private security services (CPSS) and private military and security companies (PMSC) to assist state security services and prevent the abuse of these CPSSs and PMSCs for illegal purposes.   Four, the regular overview and analyses of the current grand corruption  (‘state capture’) crisis in South Africa.

• Organ trafficking and abuses internationally: From 2007 to 2013, I was the special prosecutor on Operation Life (South Africa), an investigation into and prosecution of an international syndicate involved in illegal organ trafficking. This resulted in the conviction of the main perpetrators. From 2014 to the present- initiatives to promote law reform to increase organ donation rates, and  Vice-Chair of ETAC, New Zealand.
• Access to Justice initiatives: Research into options to make court and dispute resolution mechanism more accessible, and using Clinical Law initiatives to promote and implement law reform.
• Legal education reform: Initiatives promoting the integration of legal skills in law and criminal justice degrees, and reconsidering traditional assessment methods.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Law: Comparative Law; Constitutional and Administrative Law; Criminal Law; Legal Practice / Justice Administration

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

  • Palmer RW. (2018) South Africa – Last bulwark on the road to a failed state: the Courts, Public Protector, State Capture and the battle for the Presidency. Public Law 1: 159-171. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer RW. (2018) Using University law clinics to promote law reform: from law clinic to legislation.. Melbourne: International Journal of Clinical Legal Education Conference (2018), 29-30 Nov 2018. (Conference Contributions - Other)
  • Palmer RW; Bellengere A; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.) Palmer RW. (2018) The Law of Evidence in South Africa (Second edition). . (Edited Volumes)
  • Palmer RW. (2017) South Africa - State Capture, Local Government Elections, "Fallists" and governance by litigation. Public Law: the constitutional and administrative law of the commonwealth 2017(1): 159-162. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer RW. (2017) Time to Take Brain-Fingerprinting Seriously? A Consideration of International Developments in Forensic Brainwave Analysis (FBA), in the Context of the Need for Independent Verification of FBA’s Scientific Validity, and the Potential Legal Implications of its Use in New Zealand. The Wharenga - New Zealand Criminal Law Review 6: 330-356. (Journal Articles)
  • Pete S; Hulme D; Du Plessis M; Palmer R (Ed.) Pete S., Du Plessis M., Hulme D., Palmer R., Sibanda O. and Palmer T. (2017) Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide. (3rd ed.) Cape Town: Oxford University Press. 704. (Edited Volumes)
  • Capron A., Muller E., Ehrlich G., John M., Bienstock R., McCarren M., Palmer R., Scheper-Hughes N., Siegel D. and Yankov J. (2016) Partnerships between Transplant Professionals and Law Enforcement, in Trafficking in Human Beings for the Purpose of Organ Removal (F. Ambagtsheer and W.Weimar [eds]). In. (Conference Contributions - Published)
  • Capron AM., Muller E., Erlich G., John M., Bienstock RE., McCarren M., Palmer R., Scheper-Hughes N., Siegel D. and Yankov J. (2016) Stimulating and Enhancing Partnerships Between Transplant Professionals and Law Enforcement: Recommendations. Transplantation Direct 2(2) e57 http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/TXD.0000000000000567. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Applications. In Palmer R; Pete S; Du Plessis M; Hulme D (Ed.), Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide (3rd ed.): 131-153. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Dealing with HIV/AIDS in the Criminal Justice System. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 12. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Drastic Procedures: Anton Pillar Orders, Knox D'Arcy Interdicts, POCA Civil Recovery, Protection Orders and Spoliation Orders. In Palmer R; Pete S; Du Plessis M; Hulme D (Ed.), Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide (3rd ed.): 452-462. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Plea- and Sentence Agreements. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 28. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Pre-litigation issues: Demand, Time-limits, Service of legal documents and Action or Application. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), Civil Procedure: A Practical Guide (3rd ed.): 99-130. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Pre-trial diversions. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 12. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Procedures for Combating Organised Crime. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 55. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Prosecuting legal persons: S332. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 10. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2016) Search and Seizure. In Palmer R; Theophilopoulos C (Ed.), Criminal Procedure in South Africa: 15. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. and Gledhill K. (2016) Basic Concepts of Clinical Legal Studies and Internships. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Studies Handbook: 30. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. and Green C. (2016) Clinical Legal studies and Legal Internships in the Law School Curriculum. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 20. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. and Rumbles W. (2016) E- Learning and Cyber-law for Clinical Legal Studies and Internships. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 22. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R., Gledhill K. and Holderness H. (2016) Cooperation with partner and referral agencies, organisations and organs of the Crown. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 22. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R., Gledhill K. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2016) Cooperation with International and Regional Clinical Law organisations. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 18. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R., Manning D., Gledhill K. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2016) Selected Specialist Law Clinics. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 36. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R., Stephens M., Rumbles W. and Green C. (2016) Cultural appreciation and awareness in Clinical Legal Studies and Internships. In Palmer R; Gledhill K (Ed.), New Zealand Clinical Legal Studies Handbook: 30. Wellington: Thomson Reuters. (Chapters)
  • Palmer RW. (2016) Case Note: Counter-intuitive sexual abuse evidence, Emotive language and Inadvertently-elicited potentially prejudicial evidence: Kohai v R [2015] NZSC 36 and DH v R [2015] NZSC 35. Te Wharenga - New Zealand Criminal Law Review 2016(1): 48-58. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer RW. (2016) South Africa- Constitutional Court takes stand against corruption and reaffirms principles of the Rule of Law in landmark Nkandla case. Public Law: the constitutional and administrative law of the commonwealth 2016(3): 519-525. (Journal Articles)
  • Kemp G., Walker S., Palmer R., Baqwa D., Gevers C., Leslie B. and Steynberg A. (2015) Criminal Law in South Africa. (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Oxford University Press Southern Africa. 704. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. and Dorset S. (2015) Report on the implementation of the establishment of legal aid assistance centres in Timor-Leste.Commissioned by United Nations Development Program (UNDP). 75. (Reports)
  • Bellengere A; Palmer R (Ed.) (2013) The Law of Evidence in South Africa: Basic Principles. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. xxxiv+494. (Edited Volumes)
  • Cohen S., Moyo S., Palmer R., Pogge T., Pouget S. and Wells C. (2013) Tax Abuses, Poverty and Human Rights: A report of the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute Task Force on Illicit Financial Flows, Poverty and Human Rights. In Protecting Brazilians From Torture: Tax Abuses, Poverty and Human Rights, Commissioned by International Bar Association Human Rights Institute. 262. (Reports)
  • McQuoid-Mason D. and Palmer R. (2013) African Law Clinicians' Manual. Durban: Institute for Professional Legal Training (IPLT). xi+190. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. (2013) The socio-economic subjugation of women in Sub-Sarahan Africa, through constitutional, legal and traditional discrimination in respect of property and inheritance rights, as compounded by the HIV epidemic.UNAIDS. Commissioned by United Nations Aids Program. 33. (Reports)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Brief history and sources of South African law of Evidence. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 5-10. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Collateral Evidence. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 274-277. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Creditworthiness, Credibility and Reliability. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 174-179. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Defining Evidence. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 1-5. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Digital and Computer-based forensic issues and SALRC Issue Paper 27. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 349-358. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Forensic Brain-scan Analysis. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 359-364. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Res Gestae. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 278-283. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) The general test for Relevance. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 223-233. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) The Impact of the Constitution on the Law of Evidence. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 16-21. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Truth Verifiers: Probabilities, Torture and Science. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 10-16. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. (2013) Unconstitutionally obtained evidence in criminal cases: section 35(5) of the Constitution. In Palmer R; Bellengere A (Ed.), The Law of Evidence in South Africa: 234-245. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. (Chapters)
  • Palmer R. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2013) Basic Trial Advocacy Skills (Special Edition). Durban: Lexis Nexis. 131. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2013) Basic Trial Advocacy Skills- Special Edition. Durban: LexisNexis. 131. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2013) Basic Trial Advocacy Skills. Durban: Lexis Nexis. 131. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R., Gevers C., Hlophe Z., Wessels J. and Melvile N. (2013) Report on the Rationale for the Strategic Defence Procurement Package and the Utilisation of the arms and equipment acquired in terms of the Strategic Defence Procurement Package (the ‘SDPP’) ['The Arms Deal Report'].Commissioned by Government of the Republic of South Africa. (Reports)
  • Kemp G., Walker S., Palmer R., Baqwa D., Gevers C., Leslie B. and Steynberg A. (2012) Criminal Law in South Africa. Cape Town: Oxford University Press. 652-652. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. (2012) Combating Grand Corruption in Africa. Openspace : 44-44. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer R. (2012) Report on the implementation of mediation processes for the 2012 Lesotho national elections, with recommendations on the relevant application of the Lesotho Electoral Act 2011.Commissioned by Commonwealth Secretariat, London. (Reports)
  • Palmer R. and Crocker A. (2012) The payment of trust-account interest: The ethical duties of attorneys towards their clients, and the implications of the new Legal Practice Bill. Obiter 2(33): 345-358. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer R., Kanyongolo F., Nkhata M., Madise S. and Amuli C. (2012) Curriculum and materials on Pre-Trial Detention in Malawi. : 210. IPLT. (Other)
  • Melville N. and Palmer R. (2010) The applicability of the Consumer Protection Act 2008 to Credit Agreements. South African Mercantile Law Journal : 272-277. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer R. and De Gabriele D. (2010) Recommendations on the implementation of legal aid reforms in Malawi (enacted as the Malawi Legal Aid Act 2011).Commissioned by European Union and Government of Malawi. 145. (Reports)
  • Palmer R. and McQuoid-Mason D. (2010) Syllabus and materials on Malawi Law for Paralegal Training. : 640. Lilongwe: IPLT. (Other)
  • Palmer R. and Crocker A. (2007) Becoming a Lawyer: Fundamental Skills for Law Students. (2nd ed.). Durban: LexisNexis. 382. (Authored Books)
  • Palmer R. (1997) Justice in whose interests? A proposal for institutionalised mediation in the criminal justice system. South African Journal on Criminal Justice 2(10): 33-45. (Journal Articles)
  • Palmer R. and Chalmers G. (1990) Flying Start: The key to successful study. (2nd ed.). Cape Town: Struik Timmins. 135. (Authored Books)

Affiliations

  • Society of Legal Scholars (SLS) (Professional Organisation): Member

Future Research

  • Forensic Brainwave Analysis (FBA) applied in real-life settings.
  • Alternative models of legal practice to promote access to justice.
  • Muti-disciplinary grass-roots assistance clinics to promote official accountability.
  • Water law in New Zealand- time for a comprehensive overhaul.
  • Strategies for countering multi-national tax abuses.
  • Using International Criminal Law and Trans-national legal strategies to combat Grand Corruption.
  • Strategies to promote organ donation rates and counter illegal organ trafficking.

Key Methodologies

  • Forensic Brainwave Analysis and new forensic technologies
  • Multinational tax evasion
  • Practical legal training systems
  • Policing Law and issues
  • Legal Education innovations
  • Comparative Constitutional Law
  • Corruption in Africa
  • Organ trafficking and abuses
  • Access to Justice Issues
  • Consumer Law issues
  • Applied Clinical Law
  • Legal Writing
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