Overpaid judges

The Age today reported that Victorian judicial officers have been overpaid as the result of, funnily enough, bad legal advice.Magistrates, judges and justices have reportedly been approached and asked to repay the money mistakenly paid to them.The total over-payment is estimated to be just under half a million dollars.

The sexual context of child pornography

DPP v Annetts considers an important issue in child pornography cases. A case stated was recently placed before the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal that required interpretation of the phrase in a sexual context.Similar wording is also used in Victorian statute, at s 67A Crimes Act 1958:child pornography means a film, photograph, publication or computer …

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Street brawling

Further Edit: General deterrence also sometimes takes priority over rehabilitation, even for youthful offenders, in cases of large-scale drug manufacture and cultivation. A recent example is the Court of Appeal's decision in Doan v The Queen [2010] VSCA 258.Nettle JA [at 17, the other members of the Court agreeing]:I agree and I wish only to …

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English Reports available online

The amount of free legal information available online continues to grow, with UK legal-publisher Justis providing Bailii with the English Reports from 1220 to 1873.This is a literal treasure-trove of information. The English Reports Reprints take up about 25 - 30 metres of shelf space, and must weigh at least a tonne — literally.The copies …

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Advocacy by Selby

Many advocates will be familiar with Advocacy, by the late David Ross QC. It's an insightful collection of principles and ideas for practitioners of all levels of experience. Another valuable read shares the same name. Advocacy, by Hugh Selby, is also slim and accessible in its approach. Selby's approach is more methodical, as he takes …

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