Inbrief

Returning documents or things produced in response to a subpoena

On 2 June 2008 the registrar of the Federal Court issued�a notice to practitioners and litigants, which is designed to facilitate the timely return of documents or things to�a person who...

Federal Criminal Law Conference: 5 September 2008

The Law Council of Australia and the New South Wales Bar Association will host a federal criminal law conference on 5 September 2008 in Sydney. The primary purpose of the conference is to generate...

Court system to benefit from NSW Budget splash

Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced a swag of capital works for courts across New South Wales, including a new "$2 million super-sized courtroom" for the Supreme Court.�

“Our...

Hurry! Your last chance to get seats for Mathinna

Wellbeing

Join members of the Indigenous Barristers' Strategy Working Party for the performance of Mathinna at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House�tomorrow, 15 August 2008 **(performance...

Speeches to note: retirement of Mason P

A ceremonial sitting took place in the Banco Court on Friday, 30 May to mark the retirement of the Hon Justice Keith Mason AC, president of the Court of Appeal. Anna Katzmann SC spoke on behalf of...

Federalism under the microscope in Brisbane

Brisbane will play host in July to an international panel of experts to discuss the major challenges and opportunities for federal systems around the world. Under the patronage of the Hon Sir Gerard...

Cases selected for reporting in FCR by V Kline

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

Shahid v Australian College of Dermatologists [2008] FCAFC 72 Branson, Stone, Jessup Blue Wedges Inc v Minister for...

Bar Council business for Thursday, 1 May 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...

Practising Certificate Renewals Update No.2

Bar Standards

Little more than one quarter of practising certificate renewal notices have been returned for processing. All practising certificate renewal documentation and payment **must be...

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...