Inbrief

Conduct of Admiralty and maritime work in the Federal Court of Australia

The Federal Court has issued a notice, the purpose of which is to set out the arrangements for the conduct of Admiralty and maritime matters in the Federal Court. This notice deals with the...

Public Defenders Annual Criminal Law Conference

Members are invited to attend the 2010 Public Defenders Criminal Law Conference, which will be held on 27-28 March 2010 at Taronga Zoo's Harbourview Ballroom & Terrace. The conference is open to all...

Australian Government response to reviews of national security legislation

Attorney-General Robert McClelland today tabled in parliament the Rudd government’s response to reviews of national security legislation. At the same time, Mr McClelland tabled in parliament the...

Law Council welcomes Clarke recommendations on Haneef case

The Law Council of Australia has welcomed the long-awaited public release of the Clarke Inquiry’s report into the Haneef case. The report acknowledges many of the concerns raised by the Law...

Essential Christmas reading for the bar

Bar News Summer 08/09 edition is out now. All members should have received copies by now. If your chambers has not received its copies, please contact the Bar Association's publications manager.

The...

Commencement of regulations

The Criminal Procedure Further Amendment (Public Officers) Regulation 2008, the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Amendment (Police Integrity Commission Exemption) Regulation 2008 and the _Law Enforcement...

New appointment to the Federal Court

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has announced that the Hon Justice Michael Barker, a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and president of the State Administrative Tribunal, has been...

New president of the Defence Force Disciplinary Appeals Tribunal

Attorney-General Robert McClelland announced the appointment of Justice Richard Tracey RFD as president of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal. The Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal...

Applications welcome for the Justice Peter Hely Scholarship

Applications for the Justice Peter Hely Scholarship are now open. The scholarship was established by the University of Sydney Law School through contributions from the friends and colleagues of the...

New Law Council Executive elected

Victorian lawyer Catherine Gale has been appointed to the Law Council Executive following elections at last month’s directors meeting and AGM in Canberra. The new Law Council Executive,...

Internet law conference in Niseko, Japan

Internet Law for Professionals is a CPD course run in Niseko, Japan, 19 January - 22 January 2009.� Richard Cobden SC will be speaking on his representation of rights holders in recent cases on...

Farewell to the Hon Justice Virginia Bell

There will be a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court at 9.15am on Friday, 19 December 2008 in the Banco Court to farewell the Hon Justice Virginia Bell. New South Wales Solicitor-General Michael...

Bar Council business for October 2008

Matters reported elsewhere in In Brief are omitted from this summary of Bar Council business. Bar Council regularly considers requests by the attorney general, the courts and other agencies for...

President welcomes appointment of Justice Virginia Bell to the High Court

On behalf of the�Bar Association, President Anna Katzmann SC has warmly welcomed the announcement that Justice Virginia Bell is to be appointed to the High Court of Australia.

Justice Bell was...

Revised Practice Note to commence on 1 January 2009

Chief Justice J J Spigelman AC has issued an amended version of Practice Note SC Eq 3 (Commercial List and Technology and Construction List).�The revised Practice Note **commences operation on 1...

Cases selected for reporting in FCR by V Kline

The following cases will be published in a forthcoming volume of...

Reminder: Spigelman Speeches Orders

This is your last chance before Christmas to order�Speeches of�a Chief Justice, an�elegant book of wisdom and wit. Launched last week by Lord Bingham of Cornhill, this edited...

Justice Virginia Bell to be appointed to the High Court

Attorney-General Robert McClelland�has announced�the appointment of Justice Virginia Margaret Bell as a justice of the High Court of Australia, with effect from 3 February 2009. Justice...

Appointments to the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island

Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Minister for Home Affairs Bob Debus have announced the appointment of�the Hon Justice Peter Jacobson as chief justice of Norfolk Island and the Hon Justice...

NSW Law Reform Commission consulation paper on jury directions

The NSW Law Reform Commission has released a consultation paper on jury directions.

“Jury directions will fail in their purpose if they are not delivered in a form which a jury made up of...

Notice to practitioners - Federal Court (NSW Registry) Expedition List

Beginning on 2 February 2009, the first day of Law Term, the New South Wales District Registry of the Federal Court will introduce a system of expedited hearings and�judgment in appropriate...

Solicitors v Bar and Bench Golf Day

The annual Solicitors v Bar and Bench Golf Day is to be held for the first time at the magnificently rebuilt Elanora Golf & Country on Monday, 19 January 2009.�The cost for the day is $150.00...

Recent House of Lords decisions

The following opinions of the lords of appeal are available on the House of Lords web site:

Knowsley Housing Trust (Respondents) v White (FC) (Appellant) Honeygan-Green (Respondent) v London Borough...

Membership of 2009 Bar Association committees - call for applications

Each year the president reviews the need for the Bar Association’s various committees; the role of those committees; and their membership. I should be grateful if members (not just those holding...

Closure of Cobham Children's Court

NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos has approved the closure of Cobham Children's Court. The opening of the Children's Court in the Parramatta Justice Precinct in 2007 signalled the phasing out of...