Inbrief

Reminder: memorial service for the Hon Theodore Simos QC (1934-2009)

The Hon Theodore Simos QC, formerly a judge of the New South Wales Supreme Court, died on Tuesday, 26 May 2009 and was buried at a private funeral service. A memorial service will be held at St...

Vale Peter Esmond Cullen (1966-2009)

Peter Cullen of 8th Floor Wentworth Chambers died yesterday, 28 May 2009. Members will be advised of funeral arrangements as soon as they are made available.

29 May 2009

Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire for US Supreme Court nominee

How does one become an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court ? What should one expect during a� confirmation hearing before the US Senate? On 27 May, Chairman Patrick Leahy and...

Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Search Powers) Act 2009

The Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Search Powers) Act 2009 and the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Amendment (Search Powers) Regulation 2009 will commence...

Reminder: anti-money laundering provisions and potential problems for lawyers

The Hon Justice Ian Gzell, chairman of the Sydney branch of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), invites you to an address by the Honourable L J Priestley QC on "Anti-Money...

Swearing in ceremony for new Children's Court President

A ceremonial sitting will be held at the **Children's Court in Parramatta at 9.30am on 1 June 2009 **to mark the appointment of His Honour Judge Mark Marien SC as the inaugural president of the...

Papers to note: parliamentary report on altruistic surrogacy

The New South Wales Parliament's Standing Committee on Law and Justice has published its final report on 'altruistic surrogacy'. The background to the inquiry is contained in the executive summary,...

New acting judges in the District Court

Mr William Knight has been appointed as an acting judge of the District Court of New South Wales for the period commencing on 28 May 2009 and expiring on 30 June 2009.

The Hon Rodney Madgwick QC has...

LCA says Charter of Rights is for prevention, not just cure

The Law Council has reaffirmed its support for a Charter of Rights after claims were made that such legislation would have done little to protect the rights of high-profile victims such as Cornelia...

15 Bobber: Justice Rachel Pepper and Judge Andrew Colefax SC

The 15 Bobber to celebrate the appointment of the the Hon Justice Rachel Pepper to the Land and Environment Court of NSW and his Hon Judge Andrew Colefax SC to the District Court a 15 Bobber will be...

UN committee gives Australia a tick for human rights - sort of

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has released its report card following a review of Australia’s compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and...

Cases selected for reporting in FCR by V Kline

Following are the cases selected by V Kline for reporting in FCR:

Treecorp Australia Ltd v Dwyer [2009] FCA 278 Leonie's Travel Pty Ltd v International Air Transport Association [2009] FCA 280 Dale...

Reminder: honouring the memory of Paul Byrne SC, today 28 May

He's been called "the most outstanding criminal lawyer of his generation at the bar", and now colleagues and friends who wish to honour the memory of Paul Byrne SC can do so at a service to be held...

Reminder: Funeral service for David Grant Lukins

David Lukins, formerly of Edmund Barton Chambers, died on 22 May 2009. Family and friends are invited to attend a celebration of David's life, to be held in the Magnolia Chapel at Macquarie Park...

Law Council fears attack on independence of Fiji’s legal profession

The Law Council has grave concerns about the future independence of the legal profession in Fiji after the Fiji Government today issued a decree removing the Law Society’s power to issue...

Australians believe crime is worse than it really is

The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has released a report revealing misconceptions of crime and the severity of sentencing.��What Australians think about crime and justice:...

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

The following cases will be published in a forthcoming volume of NSWLR: _Baker-Morrison v State of New South Wales _[2009] NSWCA 35 Hall v Poolman [2009] NSWCA 64 _Avilion Group Pty Ltd v...

Remarks by President Obama about the closure of Guantanamo Bay

President Obama yesterday delivered a speech on the subject of his administration's attempts to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Andrew Sullivan, writing in the Atlantic Monthly,...

Commencement of the Criminal Legislation Amendment Act 2009

The Criminal Legislation Amendment Act 2009 commenced on 19 May 2009.� The object of the Act is to make miscellaneous amendments to legislation relation to crimes, criminal procedure and other...

NSW Supreme Court introduces new measures for disputed deceased estate cases

Disputes over the allocation of deceased estates will be resolved faster, more easily and with less expense in the NSW Supreme Court, thanks to a raft of initiatives to be formally introduced next...

New deputy chief magistrate

Magistrate Jane Mottley has been elevated to the position of a deputy chief magistrate of NSW, Attorney General John Hatzistergos announced today. Mr Hatzistergos said Magistrate Mottley would...

Reminder: swearing in ceremony for Michael Slattery QC

Michael Slattery QC has been appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. A formal ceremony for this occasion will be held in the Banco Court at 9.30am on Monday, 25 May 2009....

Does Australia need a Human Rights Act?

"Does Australia Need a Human Rights Act?" is an open community forum that will feature a moderated panel of highly distinguished speakers, who will discuss the state of human rights in Australia -...

CPD seminar tomorrow morning: everything you need to know about the Legal Aid Grants Online system

Have you learnt to use the new Legal Aid Grants Online system as yet? If not,� the Legal Aid Grants Online division will host a CPD seminar at the Bar Association Common Room** at 8.00am-9.00am...

First Asian Mediation Conference

The Asian Mediation Association (AMA) is proud to present the 1st AMA Conference, "Mediation Diversity – Asia & Beyond"**, to be held in Singapore on 4-5 June 2009.** The growing presence of...