Inbrief

11th International Criminal Law Congress, 8-12 October 2008

This biennial International Criminal Law Congress in Sydney in 2008 will address the investigation, prosecution, defence, adjudication and punishment of crime and the challenges raised in the 21st...

Information session on new national standards for accreditation of mediators

On 22 May 2008, the Bar Council declared the NSW Bar Association to be a Recognised Mediator Accreditation Body under the Australian National Mediator Accreditation System Standards, which came into...

Cases selected for reporting in NSWLR by the Editor, Bret Walker SC

The following four cases will be published in a forthcoming volume of NSWLR:

City of Canada Bay Council v Bonaccorso Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 351 (Mason P, Tobias JA and Young CJ in Eq)) Thaina Town...

UK Government moves to ban computer-generated images of child abuse

The UK Ministry of Justice has unveiled proposals�to ban the�possession of non-photographic visual depictions of under-aged children engaged in sexual activity. This is�partly in...

Ceremonial sitting for Mason P

In a late change to proceedings, President Anna Katzmann SC will speak on behalf of the Bar at the�formal ceremony to mark the retirement of the Hon Justice Keith Mason AC as the president of...

Victorian Law Reform Commission launches report of its Civil Justice Review

The Victorian Law Reform Commission has released the report of its Civil Justice Review. The commission was asked, under the terms of reference, to�identify objectives and principles that would...

Latest case notes from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner

Privacy Commissioner Karen Curtis, has today released seven new case notes:

A v Private School [2008] PrivCmrA 1 - refusal to give access to personal information held by a private school. B v Hotel...

Michael King SC appointed to the District Court

Michael John King SC has been appointed�as a judge of the District Court of New South Wales, effective 17 June 2008. Further details regarding the swearing-in will be announced closer to the...

Legislation to note: Judiciary Amendment Bill 2008

The Judiciary Amendment Bill 2008 has been introduced into the House of Representatives. The object of this Bill, as provided in the explanatory memorandum, is to respond to the High Court decision...

Legislation to note: Evidence Amendment Bill 2008 (Cth)

Attorney-General Robert McClelland�has introduced the Evidence Amendment Bill 2008�(Cth). The object of the Bill, as provided by the explanatory memorandum, is to amend the Evidence Act...

Biennial increase in fees for Commonwealth courts and tribunals

Biennial increases in fees for a�number of Commonwealth courts and tribunals have�been gazetted�today.�The prescribed fee increases **take effect from 1 July 2008.

ASIC launches civil proceedings against solicitor

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has commenced civil proceedings against North Sydney solicitor Mr Timothy Donald Somerville and eight company directors over alleged 'phoenix...

Legislation to note: Crimes Amendment (Rock Throwing) Act 2008

The Crimes Amendment (Rock Throwing) Act 2008 commenced by proclamation on 23 May 2008. The object of the Act, as provided by the explanatory notes to the Bill, is to�amend the Crimes Act 1900...

Have you registered for the National Indigenous Legal Conference yet?

The 2008 National Indigenous Legal Conference�will bring together lawyers, judges, barristers, policy makers, service providers, Community Elders and many other stakeholders. In particular, the...

Web watch: Judicial Information Research Service (JIRS)

The Supreme Court library has completed phase one of its unreported judgments scanning project, which comprises NSW Court of Appeal unreported judgments 1988-1998 scanned into PDF format.

This...

Legal practitioners’ scale of costs: deadline for submissions draws near

In April 2008 the High Court, Federal Court, Family Court and Federal Magistrates Court� established a Joint Advisory Committee (JCAC) to inquire into, and make recommendations on, any...

A Message from the President: Amendments to the Barristers Rules concerning cross-examination

Following the conclusion of the consultation period for the revised changes proposed to the New South Wales Barristers’ Rules on 16 May 2008, the Bar Council has now had the opportunity to...

Papers to note: Law Council submission to the Clarke Inquiry

The Law Council of Australia has released its submission to the Clarke Inquiry into the case of Dr Mohamed Haneef. The LCA expressed concern that, "throughout the Haneef case, police were operating...

Speeches to note: Coming in from the Cold

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has re-affirmed the Australian Government's�commitment to international human rights law.�Speaking at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission...

Commonwealth announces changes to legal purchasing and tendering

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has�foreshadowed�changes to�Australian�Government tendering and contracting for legal services. The changes,�outlined in a media release,... Read more >

Cases selected for reporting in NSWLR by the Editor, Bret Walker SC

The following cases will be published in a forthcoming volume of NSWLR:

James Spittles v Michael’s Appliance Services Pty Ltd and Others [2008] NSWCA 76 (Bell JA, Handley AJA and Barr J) White...

Conscience: do lawyers need one?

Cardinal George Pell will be presenting on the topic "Conscience: Do Lawyers Need One?" at the UTS Annual Lawyers and Ethics Eminent Speakers' Series. The lecture will take place on Wednesday, 28 May...

Breakfast Talk series: The origins of human rights law

Wellbeing

Members are invited to�attend the final presentation in the Breakfast Talk series on�Thursday, 29 May. Entitled "Why condemn those who only acted ‘according to the...

Recent House of Lords decisions

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

R V Asfaw (On Appeal From The Court of Appeal (Criminal Division))�[2008] UKHL 31�21 May...

Speeches to note: 2008 Mabo Lecture

The minister for indigenous affairs, Jenny Macklin MP, has delivered the 2008 Mabo Lecture�today at James Cook University in Townsville.�Entitled "Beyond Mabo: Native Title and Closing the...