Tomorrow: Bugmy Justice Reports Project

22/11/2022

The Bugmy Justice Project creates Bugmy Justice Reports for pre-sentencing and bail hearing matters that provide background information to a court for consideration when sentencing an Aboriginal person.

Informed by the learnings of the Bugmy High Court case, Bugmy Justice Reports aim to provide culturally and individually appropriate evidence and suggest available options to the District and Supreme Courts of NSW using a cultural strengths-based approach.

Reports include information about the personal, racial, cultural and historical impacts on defendants’ lives for appearances before the Courts in bail and/or sentencing matters.

There is a need for improved community-based and individualised background information in sentencing for First Nations people involved in the justice system.

In the decision of Bugmy v the Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571, the High Court considered the issue of sentencing Aboriginal offenders.

The High Court stated at [41] that if background information was relevant to the offender and sentencing, it was necessary to have 'material tending to establish that background'.

Presenters: The Honourable Judge Peter McGrath SC & Mr Keenan Mundine Co-founder Deadly Connections & Ambassador

Chair: The Honourable Justice Hament Dhanji

Time: 5.00pm-6.00pm

When: Wednesday, 23 November 2022

Venue: In Person attendance -The NSW Bar Association Common Room, 174 Phillip Street, Sydney.

RSVP: If you would like to attend the session, please RSVP by 5.00pm Friday, 18 November 2022 via the link here.

This program is a joint initiative of the NSW Bar Association First Nations Committee, the Law Society of NSW Indigenous Issues Committee and the NSW Judicial Commission Ngara Yura Committee.

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