Inbrief

New appointments to the Federal Court

Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, announced the appointment of five new judges to the Federal Court of Australia.� The Hon Justice Julie Dodds-Streeton and Mr Mordy Bromberg SC have been...

Annabel Crabb to speak at the bar

The Bar Association is pleased to announce that Annabel Crabb will be a guest speaker at the bar on Wednesday, 4 November from 5.15pm in the Common Room. Anna Katzmann SC will chair the session....

New safeguards for issuing search and other warrants

The Courts and Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2009 _was introduced into the NSW Legislatve Assembly this morning and has been agreed to in principle. The objects of this Bill, as provided by the...

Judicial Commission produces DVD on circle sentencing

Australian of the year Dr Mick Dodson AM has launched a DVD which provides new insight into the practice of circle sentencing. The chief executive of the Judicial Commission of NSW, Mr Ernie Schmatt,...

Another step towards a national judiciary

The New South Wales Government has introduced into parliament the Judicial Officers Amendment Bill 2009. The object of the Bill, as provided by the explanatory note, is to amend the _Judicial...

New appointment to the Local Court

Attorney General John Hatzistergos today announced he would recommend to Governor Marie Bashir AC the appointment of Susan McGowan to the bench of the NSW Local Court. Ms McGowan has practised law...

Final reminder: Pink Ribbon Breakfast is on tomorrow

Members are invited to attend a Pink Ribbon Breakfast in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s Pink Ribbon Day **this Friday, 30 October 2009, **8.00-9.30am, in the Bar Association...

Final reminder: 2009 Forbes Lecture tonight

The Francis Forbes Society for Australian Legal History invites members to attend the annual Forbes Lecture, to be held in the Bar Common Room **tonight at 5.00pm. **The guest lecturer will be...

NSW Government announces new penalties for knife crimes

Attorney General John Hatzistergos today announced that the New South Wales Government will support new laws to increase penalties for knife crime including offences for possessing knifes in schools...

Reappointment of Acting Judge Johns

His Honour Acting Judge Johns has been reappointed as an acting judge of the District Court of New South Wales and as a member of the Dust Diseases Tribunal of New South Wales for the period...

Legislation to note: Court Information Bill 2009

The New South Wales Government has released a consultation draft of its Court Information Bill 2009. The object of the Bill is to make provision for conditions and restrictions to be imposed on...

Alternative amendment to the Bar Association Constitution

The notice for the Bar Association's Annual General Meeting to be held on **13 November **includes a proposal for a new clause to be inserted in the Association’s Constitution concerning the...

Appointment of new magistrate

Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced the appointment of Ms Teresa O'Sullivan as a magistrate of the Local Court of New South Wales, commencing on and from 30 November 2009. Learn more >

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There was movement at the chambers

Changed your head of chambers recently? The Bar Association requests that any clerks who have not yet notified the certification officer about a recently appointed head of chambers, should please do...

Supreme Court issues two practice notes

Chief Justice J J Spigelman AC has issued two practice notes: SC Eq 8 - Urgent Matters in the Equity Division and SC Eq 1 - Case Management, which replaces SC Eq 1 that was issued on 17 August 2005....

2010 Bar Council elections - nominations have closed

Nominations for the 2010 Bar Council closed at 4.00pm today. Thirty senior counsel and 84 members of the Junior Bar (including 19 under 5s) have nominated.

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19 October 2009

Where now for the rule of law in Australia?

The rule of law: everyone supports it. But what are the challenges confronting it in Australia and how should the legal profession, legislators, judicial officers and law reform commissioners...

Female bar readers welcome & networking lunch

All members are invited to the biannual lunch for female bar readers on Friday, 23 October between 12:45 - 2:00pm, to be hosted by the Women Lawyers Association of NSW. Non-reader attendees must pay...

Bench and Bar v Solicitors chess match

The annual Bench & Bar v Solicitors chess match for The Terrey Shaw Memorial Shield will be held on Thursday, 5 November 2009 at 5.45pm (for 6pm start) at Allens Arthur Robinson, Level 28, Deutsche...

Cases selected for reporting in FCR by V Kline

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

Snedden v Republic of Croatia [2009] FCAFC 111 Lui v Federal Commissioner of Taxation� [2009] FCAFC 115 Assistant Treasurer and...

Final Reminder Nominations for 2010 Bar Council

Members are reminded that nominations for election to the 2010 Bar Council close at 4.00pm on Monday 19 October 2009.

Any member who has not received a nomination form can obtain one from the...

Re-trial of Galileo on the ABCTV Compass

On Sunday 9 May at 10.10pm the ABC TV programme Compass will show the** Re-Trial of Galileo**, which was held on 26 October 2009 at the University of New South Wales. As part of the International...

New look Bar Library web site

The Bar library’s web site has a new look and feel. Check it out at http://library.nswbar.asn.au/� Many thanks to Jenny Nott and Matthew Vickers for all their hard work and persistence, not...

Appointment to the Local Court

Attorney General John Hatzistergos has announced the appointment of Teresa O'Sullivan to the bench of the New South Wales Local Court. Ms O’Sullivan will be sworn in as a magistrate on 30...

Family Court drive to reduce backlog of cases

In September the Family Court of Australia held a special sitting in Sydney to reduce the backlog of cases. Judges from registries in other states were brought in to help, with the result that nearly...