A district court judge is off the bench after an altercation with a young lawyer which saw her allegedly taking to him with a crutch.

Judge Anna Johns is on "sick leave" after a complaint was made about the incident which unfolded during a heated debate with a young lawyer at a function in central Auckland's members only Northern Club.

Judge Johns, who sits at the Manukau District Court, was one of a number of judges at the fundraising function for the Rangimarie Trust. Along with High Court judges and senior Queen's Counsel, the event was attended by the cream of Auckland's legal community.

The Herald was told that Judge Johns had been enjoying the evening when she became embroiled in a debate with a young lawyer.

Judge Johns had recently had hip surgery and was using crutches for support. During the course of the debate, witnesses reported seeing a crutch used to strike at the young lawyer.

In the wake of the incident, a complaint was made to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner who then informed the Chief District Court Judge.

A spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief District Court judge said in a statement: "The Chief Judge is aware of a recent complaint made to the Judicial Conduct Commissioner.

"The integrity of the Commissioner 's process for dealing with complaints must be respected, therefore it is inappropriate to comment on or interfere in any way in that independent process. That independence is its strength.

"The judge in question has been on sick leave since the complaint came to the attention of the Chief Judge. The Chief Judge will be making no further comment."

It is understood the young lawyer who was struck by the crutch did not make the complaint.

Angus Fletcher, who is a trustee, said he did not personally witness the incident.

"I'm not denying I'm aware that something happened," he said. "Information is made available to me as a trustee."

Judge Johns was appointed to the court in 2005, having practised as a barrister since 1998.

She had previously sat as a member of the Refugee Status Appeal Authority and worked at Meredith Connell as a senior trial prosecutor and for the Serious Fraud Office.

The fundraising event was to support the Rangimarie Trust, which was set up two years ago to enable Michelle Kidd to continue her work with the homeless and vulnerable at the Auckland District Court.

Kidd has worked for almost two decades with defendants, victims and families of both to be prepared for court hearings and the pressures around hearings.

- NZ Herald