The Wellington lawyer who has been charged with drug offences can now be named.
He is criminal lawyer, Keith Ian Jefferies.
His name suppression was lifted in the High Court at Wellington by Justice David Collins, who upheld a District Court ruling.
Jefferies was charged with four counts of possessing methamphetamine, LSD, ecstasy and tools for smoking methamphetamine.
Charges came after police raided his home, car and business on July 30.
Jefferies denied the offending and told police all of the items found belonged to other people and had been either left in his home or in his car or had been given to him in order for him to dispose of the items, a ruling by Justice Collins said.
He was given interim name suppression, but that was lifted last month by Judge David Cameron.
Jefferies appealed against the order at the High Court on Tuesday, but Justice Collins upheld it. However, suppression continued until today to allow time for an appeal to the Court of Appeal.
During Tuesday's hearing, Jefferies' lawyer Chris Tennet told Justice Collins publication of his client's name would result in extreme hardship for Jefferies and Jefferies' business partner Simon Raizis.
"Specifically, Mr Jefferies said that publishing his name would significantly undermine his professional reputation, thereby undercutting his ability to practice.
"This in turn would cause extreme financial hardship to himself and Mr Raizis," Justice Collins said.
Publication of Jefferies' name would also negate the presumption of innocence and create a risk of prejudice for a fair trial.
Mr Tennet said Judge Cameron had noted that the case against his client was strong, which went against the presumption of innocence.
However, Justice Collins said that comment only reflected the judge's assessment of the police summary of facts and was not a comment on Jefferies' guilt or innocence.
"While it is possible that both Mr Jefferies and Mr Raizis will lose some clients and suffer a reduction in income if Mr Jefferies' name is published, that possibility falls well short of the high threshold set in [the Criminal Procedure Act].
"Those who are charged with criminal offences and have their names published often suffer financial harm, as do those who work with or who are associated with them."
Jefferies' trial would also be held before a judge who would not be influenced by any pre-trial publicity, Justice Collins said.
He said Judge Cameron had "applied the correct principles, only took into account relevant matters, did not overlook any relevant matters and was plainly correct".
- By Rebecca Quilliam of APNZ
