Edit: For another perspective, here's an opinion piece written by the man who was responsible for choosing Michael Kirby for the job, former Attorney-General Michael Lavarch, writing in The Australian when Kirby stepped down in 2009. It's not very well-written but it does remark on some of the Great Dissenter's judicial accomplishments.Former Puisne High Court …
Tag: people
Programming note
Monday's Australian Story is about Nicholas Cowdery QC, the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions. The uncompromising DPP is about to retire after 17 years in the role.Pic: Kate Geraghty for the smhRichard Ackland recounts the fractious relationship between Cowdery and NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos in a 2009 piece for the Sydney Morning Herald here. Recent …
What should a modern court building look like?
Edit: The new Brisbane court complex is now open. I happily admit that it looks great from some angles.Today's Herald-Sun carries a contribution by Marilyn Warren to the paper's current Make Melbourne Better campaign.The article is an economical work of recycling by the Chief Justice. It's extracted from a much longer address made by her …
Continue reading What should a modern court building look like?
Community expectations
The Court of Appeal resentenced an offender for sexual penetration of a child in WCB v The Queen [2010] VSCA 230. The Court's own summary of the case can be read here.The offender had been sentenced to a non-parole period of six years, which was reduced to four. The case would be unremarkable but for …
Bubble trouble
Edit: Contempt proceedings in Victorian courts are (fortunately) rare. One past instance is Anissa Pty Ltd v Parsons [1999] VSC 430. Cummins J's decision is interesting for the story it tells and the law it applies. A magistrate has imposed one month's imprisonment for contempt of court to an accused who blew and popped a …