President's message

05/10/2022

The pandemic has meant historic responses from the bench and bar in relation to access to justice in New South Wales and we celebrate the lifting of masking in the courts with exceptions where necessary to protect those with health vulnerabilities. The bar has continued to deliver services throughout and to adapt and change with the times, and our nation leading bar practice course is one that other States are now seeking to emulate. We have also been leaders at the national bar of a large cultural shift to focus on respectful relations in our interactions with others. In this respect, I remind chambers that the date for advising of adoption of our updated BPGs by email to DDPA@nswbar.asn.au is Friday, 28 October 2022.

Historic photograph of the bar: Supreme Court steps 19 October 2022

Throughout the pandemic I have sought and encouraged others to document the responses of the bar in order to create a historical record and, if possible, to assist in solutions should we find ourselves in similar circumstances in future. I would like to ensure that there is a document reflecting, as best we can, the bar as currently constituted on a typical court day in town at this important time where most restrictions have been lifted, our QCs are now KCs, we have expanded almost invisibly during the pandemic by the addition of our under 3s and where we have changing proportions of diversity at the bar.

I call on the bar to attend the Supreme Court steps at lunchtime on Wednesday, 19 October 2022, robed with wigs but not ceremonial wigs, to participate in an historic image. I urge barristers who are down towards or at the John Maddison Tower or Downing Centre to come up to the Supreme Court so that we do not only have Phillip St on the steps. Similarly, if barristers from the western districts or the regions are able to be in town, I would be absolutely delighted.

Swearing in and bows ceremonies

Like the Chief Justice, I believe that it is also important to celebrate the return to in person interactions and we have seen this reflected in a large turn-out for recent Supreme Court swearing in ceremonies. I encourage the bar to continue this attendance at the swearing in ceremonies for our immediate past President, Michael McHugh SC this Friday, 7 October 2022 at the District Court, former CDPP Sarah McNaughton SC on Tuesday, 11 October 2022 at the Supreme Court, former Crown prosecutor Georgia Turner on Wednesday, 12 October 2022 and Kevin Andronos SC on Monday, 24 October 2022 at the District Court. I am very much looking forward to the 2020-2021 silks bows in the High Court of Australia on 10 October 2022, the 2022 silk bows in the Supreme Court on 19 October 2022 and am extremely honoured to represent the NSW bar at the swearing in of Justice Jayne Jagot at the High Court on 17 October 2022

Nominations close tomorrow at 4pm

Finally, we are about to transition to hybrid voting, either online or paper based, in the upcoming NSW bar elections. Nominations, which must be in writing, close tomorrow at 4pm. I urge participation in the nomination process which is elemental to ensuring good governance at the bar and remind those seeking to stand to have your nomination forms filled out and returned before 4pm.

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