Judge gets attacked in court; man jailed

In a startling and unprecedented event, Ryan Andrew Brown, 32, was sentenced to prison after physically assaulting a judge within the Wellington District Court. The assault, according to police as "unprecedented," has highlighted grave concerns regarding security in the courts and safety of the judicial personnel.

The Incident

The attack occurred on March 29, 2025, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Brown entered courtroom 2 via the public gallery and stopped for a moment before running towards Judge Bruce Davidson. Judge Davidson had only just completed sentencing another person and was still sitting at the bench. Brown was able to get past the lawyers' benches and, in a swift and sudden motion, punched Judge Davidson in the arm.

Court personnel and security rapidly responded, holding Brown down and taking him out of the courtroom. Judge Davidson was not badly hurt in the attack, though the situation left court staff and attendees shaken.

Legal Response and Sentencing

Brown once again came to the court to answer charges for the assault. Judge Davidson, in a show of professionalism and calmness, proceeded with his work as a judge after the incident. At the time of sentencing, the court heard that Brown's behavior was intentional and caused a serious threat to the integrity of the judiciary.

The presiding judge decried the assault, declaring, "Any attack upon a judicial official is an attack upon the rule of law itself. The court must make it clear that such conduct will not be countenanced." Brown received a sentence of imprisonment, the duration of which would express both the gravity of the crime and the desire to discourage such conduct in the future.

Police and Judicial Reactions

Wellington Police have described the attack as "unprecedented" in legal history in New Zealand. Detective Inspector Grant Wormald said, "This is a very rare and serious incident. The security of our judges and court staff is a top priority, and any attack on them is taken with utmost seriousness.

The New Zealand Law Society also had its say, citing concern for judicial officer safety and a need to review security procedures in courts. "This event is a stark reminder that our courts have to be safe environments for everyone involved. We encourage the Ministry of Justice to review and, if called for, to tighten security procedures," declared Law Society President Frazer Barton.