ANNUAL REVIEW - NSW Supreme Court...2016 Annual Review of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The...
Transcript of ANNUAL REVIEW - NSW Supreme Court...2016 Annual Review of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The...
Supreme Courtof New South Wales
2016ANNUAL REVIEW
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Foreword by Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Honourable T Bathurst AC, the 17th Chief Justice of New South Wales 3
1 Court Profile 4• TheCourt’sjurisdictionandDivisions 5• Whomakesthedecisions? 9 –TheJudges 9 –TheActingJudges 10 –Appointments 11 –Retirements 11 –TheAssociateJudges 11 –TheRegistrars 11• SupportingtheCourt:theRegistry 13
2 Caseflow Management 14• Overviewbyjurisdiction 15• RegionalsittingsoftheCourt 20• Alternativedisputeresolution 21
3 Court Operations 22• Overviewofoperationsbyjurisdiction 23• Timeliness 30 –Measurementagainstbenchmarks 30 –Listingdelays 31• Useofalternativedisputeresolution 32
4 Education and Public Information 34• Judicialofficereducation 35• Publiceducationprogramme 36• TheroleoftheMediaManager 37
5 Other Aspects of the Court’s work 38• UniformCivilProcedureRules 39• LawCourtsLibrary 39• Admissiontothelegalprofessionandappointmentofpublicnotaries 40• AdmissionunderthemutualrecognitionActs 40• AdministrationoftheCostsAssessmentScheme 41• ProBonoScheme 42• JudicialAssistanceProgram 42
6 Appendices 43(I) Courtstatistics–comprehensivetableofstatistics 44(II) TheCourt’scommitteesandusergroups 54(III)OtherJudicialActivity:conferences,speakingengagements,publications, 68
appointmentstolegalandculturalorganisations,delegationsandinternationalassistance,andcommissionsinoverseascourts
CONTENTS
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FOREWORD BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW SOUTH WAlES
ItiswithgreatpleasurethatIpresentthe2016AnnualReviewoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales.TheReviewprovidesacomprehensiveanalysisoftheconstituentmembersoftheCourt,itsoperationsandcasemanagement,anditscommunityprograms.Inthiswayithelpstomaintainthetransparencyandaccountabilityrequiredofpublicinstitutionsinmoderndemocracies.AllthejudgesofthisCourtremainconsciousoftheresponsibilitywehavetoadministerjustice,accordingtolaw,forthebenefitofthepeopleofNewSouthWales.Weconsideritagreatprivilegetohavethepublic’scontinuedtrustinourwork.IhopethatmembersofthepublicreadingtheReviewareaspleasedasIamwiththeachievementsoftheCourtthroughout2016.
TheoverridingobligationofthisCourtistheresolutionofdisputes,justly,cheaplyandquickly.Ontheonehand,theCourt’sperformanceofthisroleisascertainedbyconsideringsomewhatelusiveconcepts,suchasthequalityandaccessibilityofjusticeandtheopennessofprocess.ItisalsocontainedinthecarefullyconsideredjudgmentsoftheCourtandthedailyinteractionsofjudges,registrystaff,andotherCourtstaffwiththepublic.Nevertheless,wecanstillbeassistedindeterminingtheextenttowhichwearefulfillingourdutiestothepublicbyanalysingthestatisticsprovidedinthisReview.
Tothisend,thecontinuedperformanceagainstnationalbenchmarksinmanyareasoftheCourtisencouraging.Caseslessthan12monthsoldremainedsteadyfrom2015intheCourtofAppealat91%andtheEquityDivisionat71%,relativelysteadyintheCommonLawDivisionCivilListat68%(from69%in2015),andimprovedto99%ofcasesintheCourtofCriminalAppeal,upfrom94%in2015.TheageprofileworsenedintheCommonLawDivisionCriminalList,from81%downto71%,withmanycasesdelayedduetotheneedtore-listorre-starttrials,interlocutoryappeals,andanumberofverylongtrialsneedingaccommodation.TherewassomeimprovementinlistingdelaysintheCourtofAppeal,CourtofCriminalAppealandtheBailsList.TheCourtiscontinuingtoimprovetheinternalallocationofresourcestoimprovelistingdelaysintheCommonLawDivisionCivilandCriminalTrialsLists,andtheEquityDivisionListincomingyears.
TheCourtremainscommittedtopromotingalternativedisputeresolution.TheCourt-AnnexedMediationProgramcontinuedtoachieveagoodsettlementrateof51%in2016.Theintroductionofinformalsettlementconferencesin2014hasreducedthenumberofcasesgoingtoCourt-AnnexedMediation,providingcheaperandquickerresolutionsforthepartiesinvolved.
Oneofthewayswecancontinuetomaintainthesepleasingstatisticaloutcomesisbyensuringjudgesupdatetheirskillsandknowledgethroughjudicialeducationprograms.During2016,eachjudgeattended(onaverage)2.8daysofJudicialCommissiontraining,andmanyalsoattendedorientationprogramsfornewjudges,twilightseminarsandtheSupremeCourt’sannualconference.IampleasedtoreportthatjudgesalsoattendedanumberofseminarsonissuesspecifictoIndigenousoffenders,aspartoftheCourt’songoingcommitmenttoimprovingtherelationshipbetweenthejusticesystemandIndigenousAustralians.
TheMediaManagercontinuedtomediatetheCourt’srelationshipwiththebroaderpublic,completing6,149requestsforinformationthroughouttheyear.Inaddition,theCourt’sregistrarscontinuedthepubliceducationprogram,providinglecturesatnocostabouttheSupremeCourttoapproximately1,100studentsandmembersofthepublicoverthecourseoftheyear.
AsthisAnnualReviewevidences,theSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesisabusyinstitutionwhichnonethelessrunssmoothlyandsuccessfully.Forthis,canIfirstlythankallthejudicialofficersofthisCourt,whocontinuetofaithfullyserveandupholdtheruleoflawwithimpartialityandintegrityintheirdailywork.Secondly,IexpressmygratitudetoallCourtstaff,fortheirhardworkandongoingcommitmenttotheadministrationofjustice.IcommendtheirdedicationandItrustthatthisReviewwillprovideyouaninsightintotheworkweallundertake.
The Hon T Bathurst AC Chief Justice of New South Wales
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1 COURT PROFILE
• TheCourt’sjurisdictionandDivisions
• Whomakesthedecisions?
• SupportingtheCourt:theRegistry
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The Supreme Court of New South Wales: our place in the court systemThecourtsysteminNewSouthWalesisstructuredonahierarchicalbasis.TheSupremeCourtisthesuperiorcourtofrecordinNewSouthWalesand,assuch,hasaninherentjurisdictioninadditiontoitsspecificstatutoryjurisdiction.
TheSupremeCourthasappellateandtrialjurisdictions.Theappellatecourtsarethe:
• CourtofAppeal• CourtofCriminalAppeal.
ThetrialworkofthecriminalandciviljurisdictionsisdividedbetweentwoDivisions:
• CommonLawDivision• EquityDivision.
Thisstructurefacilitatestheconvenientdespatchofbusinessinaccordancewiththeprovisionsundersection38oftheSupreme Court Act 1970.
Section23oftheSupreme Court Act1970providestheCourtwithalljurisdictionnecessaryfortheadministrationofjusticeinNewSouthWales.TheSupremeCourthassupervisoryjurisdictionoverothercourtsandtribunalsintheState.TheCourtgenerallyexercisesthissupervisoryjurisdictionthroughitsappellatecourts.
TheIndustrialCourtofNewSouthWalesandtheLandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesarespecialistcourtsofstatutoryjurisdiction.TheJudgesofthesecourtshavethestatusofSupremeCourtJudges.
TheDistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesisanintermediatecourt,anditsjurisdictionisdeterminedbystatute.TheLocalCourtsitsatthebottomofthehierarchyofNewSouthWalescourts,andhasbroadcriminalandciviljurisdictions.
TheNSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal(NCAT)wasestablishedon1January2014bytheCivil and Administrative Tribunal Act2013.NCATisthesinglepointofaccessforspecialisttribunalservicesinNSW,consolidatingtheworkof22formertribunals.NCATwasestablishedinresponsetotherecommendationsoftheLegislativeCouncil’sStandingCommitteeonLawandJusticeInquiryintoopportunitiestoconsolidatetribunalsinNSW.
THE COURT’S JURISDICTION AND DIVISIONS
TherearefourdivisionsofNCAT:theAdministrativeandEqualOpportunityDivision;theConsumerandCommercialDivision;theGuardianshipDivision;andtheOccupationalDivision.
Figures1.1and1.2illustratethecourthierarchyinNewSouthWalesandthegatewaystoappealinthecriminalandciviljurisdictions.
Court of AppealTheCourtofAppealisresponsibleforhearingappealsincivilmattersagainstthedecisionsofthejudicialofficersoftheSupremeCourt,othercourts,commissionsandtribunalswithintheState,asprescribedintheSupreme Court Act 1970.
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Court of Criminal AppealTheCourtofCriminalAppealhearsappealsfromcriminalproceedingsintheSupremeCourt,theIndustrialCourt,theLandandEnvironmentCourt,theDistrictCourtandtheDrugCourt.Appealsmaychallengeconvictionsandsentencesimposeduponindictmentorinthetrialcourt’ssummaryjurisdiction,orinterlocutoryordersmadebythetrialcourt.AppealsfromcommittalproceedingsintheLocalCourtmayalsobeheardincertaincircumstances.
SittingsoftheCourtofCriminalAppealareorganisedonarosterbasis,takingintoaccounttheotherregularjudicialdutiesandcommitmentsoftheJudgeswhoformtheCourt’sbench.TheJudgeswhositintheCourtofCriminalAppealaretheChiefJustice,thePresident,theJudgesoftheCourtofAppeal,theChiefJudgeatCommonLawandJudgesoftheCommonLawDivision.During2016,eachCourtofCriminalAppealbenchcomprisedatleasttwoCommonLawjudges,withthepresidingjudgebeingtheChiefJustice,thePresident,aJudgeofAppeal,ortheChiefJudgeatCommonLaw.
Common law DivisionTheCommonLawDivisionhearsbothcriminalandcivilmatters.Thecriminalmattersinvolvehomicideoffencesandoffenceswheretheprosecutionseekslifeimprisonment.OthermattersinvolvingseriouscriminalityormattersofpublicinterestmaybebroughtbeforetheCourtwiththeChiefJustice’s
approval.TheJudgesoftheCommonLawDivisionalsohearbailapplications,mattersconcerningproceedsofcrimeandpost-convictioninquiries.
TheDivisiondealswithallseriouspersonalinjuryandcontractualactions,inwhichtheCourthasunlimitedjurisdiction.ThecivilbusinessoftheDivisionalsocomprises:
• claimsfordamages• claimsofprofessionalnegligence• claimsrelatingtothepossessionofland• claimsofdefamation• administrativelawcasesseekingthereview
ofdecisionsbygovernmentandadministrativetribunal
• appealsfromLocalCourts.
Equity DivisionTheEquityDivisionexercisesthetraditionalequityjurisdictiondealingwithclaimsforremediesotherthandamagesandrecoveryofdebts,includingcontractualactions,rightsofproperty,anddisputesrelatingtopartnerships,trusts,anddeceasedestates.
TheDivisionhearsapplicationsbroughtundernumerousstatutes,includingtheCorporations Act 2001(Cth),theSuccession Act2006,andtheProperty (Relationships) Act1984.TheDivisionalsohandlesadiverserangeofapplicationsintheareasofadmiraltylaw,commerciallaw,technologyandconstruction,probateandtheCourt’sadoptionandprotectivejurisdictions.
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Figure1.1NSW COURT SYSTEM CRIMINAl JURISDICTION
Drug Court of NSW***District
Court of NSW
local Court of NSW**
Children’s Court of NSW**
Court of Criminal Appeal
High Court of Australia
land and Environment Court of NSW
Supreme Court of NSW*
Note:TheabovediagramisasimplifiedrepresentationoftheappealprocessinNSW.Actualappealrightsaredeterminedbytherelevantlegislation.
* On8December2016,anyunresolvedcriminalproceedingsintheIndustrialCourtofNSW’sresidualcriminaljurisdictionundertheOccupational Health and Safety Act2000weretransferredtotheSupremeCourt.
** AppealscanbemadetotheDistrictCourtofNSW,ordirectlytotheSupremeCourtincertaincircumstances.
*** SomeappealsfromcommittalproceedingsmaybemadedirectlytotheCourtofCriminalAppeal
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Figure1.2NSW COURT SYSTEM CIVIl JURISDICTION
Note:TheabovediagramisasimplifiedrepresentationoftheappealandjudicialreviewprocessinNSW.Actualappealrightsaredeterminedbytherelevantlegislation.
* On8December2016,anyunresolvedcivilproceedingsintheIndustrialCourtofNSWweretransferredtotheSupremeCourt.
** AppealsfromcertaindecisionofNCATmaybemadetotheCourtofAppeal,SupremeCourt,LandandEnvironmentCourtorDistrictCourt.SeeCivil and Administrative Tribunal Act2013(“theAct”),Part6,Division3.Also,certaindecisionsmaybejudiciallyreviewedbytheSupremeCourtorCourtofAppealunderSection34oftheAct;refertosection48oftheSupreme Court Act1970astowhichdecisionsareassignedtotheCourtofAppeal.
*** AppealscanbemadetotheDistrictCourtofNSW,ordirectlytotheSupremeCourtincertaincircumstances
High Court of Australia
Court of Appeal
local Court of NSW***
Children’s Court of NSW***
land and Environment Court of NSW
Supreme Court of NSW*
District Court of NSW
Dust Diseases Tribunal
Workers Compensation Commission
NSW Civil and Administrative
Tribunal (NCAT)**
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Judges of AppealTheHonourableJusticeRuthStephanieMcCollAO
TheHonourableJusticeJohnBasten
TheHonourableJusticeRobertBruceMacfarlan
TheHonourableJusticeAnthonyJohnMeagher
TheHonourableJusticeCliftonRalphRussellHoebenAMRFD
TheHonourableJusticeJulieKathrynWard
TheHonourableJusticePeterDavidMcClellanAM
TheHonourableJusticeFabianGleeson
TheHonourableJusticeMarkJamesLeeming
TheHonourableJusticeCarolynChalmersSimpson
TheHonourableJusticeAnthonyJamesPayne
Chief Judge at Common lawTheHonourableJusticeCliftonRalphRussellHoebenAMRFD
Chief Judge in EquityTheHonourableJusticePatriciaAnneBergin
JudgesTheHonourableJusticeMichaelFrederickAdams
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelJohnWalton
TheHonourableJusticeRobertCalderMcDougall
TheHonourableJusticeRichardWeeksWhite
TheHonourableJusticePeterAnthonyJohnson
TheHonourableJusticeMeganFayLatham
TheHonourableJusticeStephenRothmanAM
TheHonourableJusticePaulLeGayBreretonAMRFD
TheHonourableJusticeDerekMichaelPriceAM
TheHonourableJusticeDavidJacobHammerschlag
TheHonourableJusticeIanGordonHarrison
TheHonourableJusticeElizabethLillianFullerton
TheHonourableJusticeLucyMcCallum
ThejudicialofficersoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesareitsJudgesandAssociateJudges.TheRegistrarsoftheCourthavelimiteddecision-makingpowers.
The JudgesTheGovernorofNewSouthWalesformallyappointstheJudgesoftheCourtfollowingadecisionbyCabinet.Judicialappointmentsaremadeonthebasisofalegalpractitioner’sintegrity,highleveloflegalskillsandthedepthofhisorherpracticalexperience.
TheGovernorappointsjudgespursuanttosection25oftheSupreme Court Act 1970.Section25specifiesthattheCourtwillinclude:aChiefJustice,aPresidentoftheCourtofAppealandsuchotherJudgesofAppeal,JudgesandAssociateJudges,astheGovernormayappointfromtimetotime.TheGovernorisalsoempoweredtoappointqualifiedpersonsasActingJudgesofAppealorActingJudgeswhentheneedarises.
TheChiefJusticeis,byvirtueofhisoffice,aJudgeofAppeal,andtheseniormemberoftheCourtofAppeal.TheothermembersoftheCourtofAppealarethePresidentandtheJudgesofAppeal.TheJudgesoftheCourtareassignedtospecificDivisions,andordinarilyconfinetheiractivitiestothebusinessofthoseDivisions.Incertaincircumstances,theChiefJusticemaycertifythataparticularJudgeshouldactasanadditionalJudgeofAppealincertainproceedingsbeforetheCourtofAppeal.
TheSupreme Court Act 1970alsoprovidesthattheChiefJusticemayappointJudgestoadministeraspecificlistwithintheCommonLaworEquityDivisions.DetailsoftheJudgesassignedtotheselistsin2016canbefoundinChapter2.
SetoutbelowaretheJudgesoftheCourt,inorderofseniority,asat31December2016.
Chief JusticeTheHonourableThomasFrederickBathurstAC
PresidentTheHonourableJusticeMargaretJoanBeazleyAO
WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS?
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ActingJudgesareaskedtopresideoverspecifichearingsastheneedarises.ThetotalnumberofdayseachpersonactedasaJudgeoftheCourtduring2016isalsoindicated.
Acting Judges of Appeal (in alphabetical order)• TheHonourableReginaldIanBarrett,former
JudgeofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales(commissioneffectivefrom3March2016,actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor95days).
• TheHonourableJonathanBarryRashleighBeach,JudgeoftheFederalCourtofAustralia(commissioneffectivefrom22November2016,actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor1day).
• TheHonourableArthurRobertEmmett,formerJudgeofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales(actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor231days).
• TheHonourableRonaldSackvilleAOQC,formerJudgeoftheFederalCourtofAustralia(actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor191days).
• TheHonourableMurrayHerbertTobiasAMRFDQC,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesandJudgeofAppeal(commissioneffectiveuntil26March2016,actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor12days).
• TheHonourablePeterWolstenholmeYoungAOQC,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesandJudgeofAppeal(commissioneffectiveuntil30June2016,actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor39days).
Acting Judges (in alphabetical order)• TheHonourableRobertShallcrossHulmeQC,
formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales(commissioneffectiveuntil30June2016,actedasaJudgefor193days).
• TheHonourableJaneHamiltonMathewsAO,formerJudgeoftheFederalCourtofAustralia(actedasaJudgefor97days).
• TheHonourablePeterJohnHiddenAMQC,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales(commissioneffectivefrom7July2016,actedasaJudgefor55days).
TheHonourableJusticeNigelGeoffreyRein
TheHonourableJusticeRobertAllanHulme
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelJohnSlattery
TheHonourableJusticeDavidLloydDavies
TheHonourableJusticeMonikaSchmidt
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelAndrewPembroke
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelLeeBall
TheHonourableJusticePeterRichardGarlingRFD
TheHonourableJusticeJohnRobertsonSackar
TheHonourableJusticeAshleyJohnBlack
TheHonourableJusticeChristineElizabethAdamson
TheHonourableJusticeGeoffreyJohnBellew
TheHonourableJusticeJamesWilliamJohnStevenson
TheHonourableJusticeRobertThomasBeech-Jones
TheHonourableJusticeStephenGerardCampbell
TheHonourableJusticeRichardJamesButton
TheHonourableJusticeGeoffreyCharlesLindsay
TheHonourableJusticePhilipHallen
TheHonourableJusticeFrancoisKunc
TheHonourableJusticeStephenDavidRobb
TheHonourableJusticeRowanJamesHunterDarke
TheHonourableJusticeRobertsonJamesWright
TheHonourableJusticeHelenMcLeodWilson
TheHonourableJusticeDesmondJohnFagan
TheHonourableJusticeNatalieJaneAdams
The Acting JudgesSetoutbelowaredetailsofthosepersonswhoheldcommissionsasActingJudgesduringthe2016calendaryear.Unlessotherwiseindicated,thejudicialofficer’scommissionwaseffectivefortheentirecalendaryear.
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possessionofproperty.TheAssociateJudgealsohearsothertrials(withoutajury)thatarereferredtothembytheCourtofAppealoraJudge,inadditiontoappealsfromtheLocalCourtandvarioustribunals.
IntheEquityDivision,theAssociateJudgedealswithproceedingsundertheFamily Provision Act1982andtheProperty (Relationships) Act1984,andapplicationsforthewindingupofcompaniesundertheCorporations Act2001(Cth).TheAssociateJudgealsodealswithinquiriesastodamages,oraccountsreferredbytheCourtofAppealorEquityJudges,alongwithapplicationsrelatingtotheadministrationoftrusts,andcertainprobatematters.
Asat31December2016,theCourt’sonlyAssociateJudgewasTheHonourableJoanneRuthHarrison(CommonLawDivision).
The RegistrarsRegistrarsoftheCourtareappointedundersection120oftheSupreme Court Act1970pursuanttotheprovisionsofthePublic Sector Employment and Management Act2002.TheChiefJusticemayalsocertifyofficersoftheSupremeCourtorLocalCourtstoactasDeputyRegistrarsoftheCourtfromtimetotime.
RegistrarsareallocatedtoworkwithintheCourtofAppeal,theCourtofCriminalAppealortooneoftheCourt’sDivisions.However,theyarepermittedtoworkoutsideparticularDivisions,ifrequired.
RegistrarsareaffordedlimitedpowersoftheCourtundertheSupremeCourtRules1970andtheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005,andundertakesomeofthefunctionsformerlyperformedbyJudgesandAssociateJudges.
TheworkoftheRegistrarscommonlyincludes:
• defendedapplicationsinrelationtosecurityforcosts,discovery,interrogatories,provisionofparticularsandsubpoenas
• costsdisputesiftheamountinquestionisunlikelytoexceed$20,000
• unopposedapplicationsfortheremovalofcasesto,orfrom,theDistrictCourt
AppointmentsThefollowingJudgeswereappointedin2016(inchronologicalorder):
• AnthonyJamesPayneSCwasappointedaJudgeofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson30March2016.
• NatalieJaneAdamsSCwasappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson5April2016.
• TheHonourableJusticeMichaelJohnWaltonwasappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson8December2016.
RetirementsThefollowingJudgesretiredin2016(inchronologicalorder):
• TheHonourableJusticePeterJohnHiddenretiredasaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson17March2016.
• TheHonourableJusticePeterMichaelHallretiredasaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson21December2016.
The Associate JudgesTheGovernorappointsAssociateJudgestotheCourtundersection111oftheSupreme Court Act1970.AssociateJudgesareusuallyassignedtoperformworkwithineithertheEquityorCommonLawDivision.However,theymaybeaskedtoworkoutsidetheconfinesoftheseDivisionsintheinterestsofflexibility.
TheworkofanAssociateJudgegenerallyinvolveshearingapplicationsthatarisebeforetrial,certaintypesoftrialworkandworkonproceedingsthattheCourtofAppealoraJudgemayrefertotheAssociateJudge.
Applicationsthatarisebeforetrialinclude:
• applicationsforsummaryjudgment• applicationsfordismissalofproceedings• applicationsforextensionsoftimetocommence• proceedingsundervariousActs• applicationsforthereviewofdecisionsof
Registrars.
IntheCommonLawDivision,theAssociateJudgeconductstrialsofactionsforpersonalinjuryand
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Registrar, Court of Criminal AppealAlannaVanDerVeen(untilJune);KatrinaCurry(Juneonwards)
Registrar, Common law Case ManagementChristopherBradford
Registrar in EquityLeonieWalton
Acting Registrar, Corporations listJenniferHedgeRebelKenna
Senior Deputy RegistrarsNicholasFlaskas
Deputy RegistrarsEmokeDurkinBhaskariSivaSuzinYooBrendanBellach
• conductingexaminationsundervariousActs,includingtheCorporations Act 2001(Cth)andtheProceeds of Crime Act1987(Cth)
• dealingwithapplicationsforordersundermanyoftheprovisionsoftheCorporations Act2001(Cth),suchasthewindingupofcompanies
• handlingapplicationsasreferredtothembyanAssociateJudge
• issuingcourtordersandwritsofexecution,and• enteringdefaultjudgments.
TheSupremeCourtRules1970anddelegationsundertheCivil Procedure Act2005permitRegistrarstodirectlyassisttheJudgesincaseflowmanagement.Forinstance,intheCourtofAppeal,theRegistrardealswithmostinterlocutoryapplications,excludingapplicationstostayjudgmentpendinganappeal.IntheCommonLawDivision,aRegistrarconductsdirectionshearingsintheGeneralCaseManagementList,andalsoassiststhePossessionListandProfessionalNegligenceListJudges.
TheRegistrarsmayalsobecalledupontomediatecases.During2016,nineoftheCourt’sRegistrarswerequalifiedmediatorsandavailabletoconductmediationsthroughouttheyearonarosteredbasis.
DeputyRegistrarsarerosteredtoactasDutyRegistrarandtoprovideproceduralassistanceeachdaytocourtusersintheRegistry,orbyemailortelephone.Theyalsoattendtotheissueofcourtorders,writsofexecutionandothermiscellaneousmatters.
SetoutbelowaretheRegistrarsoftheCourt,asat31December2016:
Executive Director and Principal RegistrarChrisD’Aeth
Director, Assistant Principal Registrar and ProthonotaryRebelKenna
Registrar, Court of AppealJerryRiznyczok
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Management of the Registry TheChiefJusticedirectstheprioritiestobepursuedbytheRegistry.Ingeneral,theprioritiesreflectthecentralaimofmeetingtheexpectationsofCourtuserscompetently,efficientlyandprofessionally.
DaytodaymanagementoftheRegistryishandledbytheExecutiveDirectorandPrincipalRegistraroftheCourt.TheExecutiveDirectorisalsoresponsibleforsecuringandmanagingtheresourcestheNewSouthWalesDepartmentofAttorneyGeneralandJusticeprovidestotheCourt,providingexecutivesupporttotheCourt’sjudicialofficersanddevelopingstrategiestoimprovethedeliveryofRegistryservices.TheExecutiveDirectorundertakesthesedutiesincloseconsultationwiththeChiefJustice,otherjudicialofficers,theDepartment,representativesfromkeyprofessionalbodiesandtheCourt’susers.
The work of the RegistryTheCourtoperateswiththesupportoftheRegistry,whichprovidesadministrativeandclericalsupporttotheCourt.
Incivilmatters,theRegistryisresponsiblefor:acceptingdocumentsfiledattheCourt;securingthecustodyofcourtdocumentsincludingexhibitsanddocumentsproducedundersubpoena;listingmattersforhearing;issuingcourtprocess;attendingtotheinformationneedsoftheCourt’susersbyprovidingproceduralguidance;maintainingtheCourt’sphysicalfilesandcomputerrecords;andensuringthatallthenecessaryfacilitiesareavailableforhearings.
Incriminalmatters,theRegistryprovidessupportinprocessingcommittals,bailapplications,applicationsunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act2001andCommonLawDivisioncriminalsummaryjurisdictionproceedings.
InrespectoftheCourtofAppeal,theRegistryprovidesspecialistadministrativeandclericalsupporttotheCourtofAppealJudgesandoffersproceduralguidancetolitigantsandtheirrepresentatives.Similarly,incriminalappealmatters,theRegistryprovidessupporttotheCourtofCriminalAppealJudgesandusers,andalsoissuesordersconcerningthecustodyofprisoners.
SUPPORTING THE COURT: THE REGISTRY
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2 CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT
• Overviewbyjurisdiction
• RegionalsittingsoftheCourt
• Alternativedisputeresolution
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OVERVIEW BY JURISDICTION
IntroductionTheCourtmanagestheflowofitscasesfrominceptiontocompletioninanumberofdifferentways,andiscontinuallylookingtoimproveitsprocessesandoutcomes.
CaseflowmanagementstrategiesarereflectedintheUniformCivilProcedureRules,theSupremeCourtRulesandthePracticeNotesissuedbytheChiefJustice.TheJudges,AssociateJudgesandRegistrarsworktogethertoensurethatcasesareresolvedasefficientlyandjustlyaspossible.
Commonly,caseswillbeallocatedtoRegistrarstoestablishthecoreargumentsindisputeanddeterminewhencasesshouldprogresstohearingbeforeaJudgeoranAssociateJudge.ARegistrarmakesdirectionstoensurethatacaseisproperlypreparedforhearing.IfanissuearisesthatfallsoutsidethespecifieddutiesofaRegistrar,heorshemayreferthatcasetoaJudgeoranAssociateJudge.
Court of AppealNewappealcasesarereviewedforcompetencyand,ifnecessary,referredbacktolegalrepresentativestoeithersubstantiatetheclaimofappealasofrightorseekleavetoappeal.Applicationsforleavetoappealareexaminedtoascertainwhethertheyaresuitableforhearingconcurrentlywiththeargumentonappeal.
AppealsareallocatedadirectionscalloverdatebeforetheRegistraronceanoticeofappealisfiled.Atthatcallover,theappealmaybelistedforhearingiftheappellanthasfiledwrittensubmissionsandtheredappealbook.Furthercasemanagementmaybeorderedwithrespecttolengthyorcomplexappeals.
TheRegistrarmanagesandlistsmostappealcasesandapplicationsforleavetoappeal,althoughsomecasesmaybereferredtoaJudgeofAppealforspecialcasemanagement.Urgentcasesareexpeditedandcanbeheardatshortnotice,ifappropriate.TheRegistrarintheCourtofAppealalsodealswithmostinterlocutoryapplications(inaccordancewithadelegationbytheChiefJusticeundersection13oftheCivil Procedure Act 2005).
Mediationisofferedtopartiesinappealsidentifiedascapableofresolutionbythisprocess.DetailedstatisticsregardingthenumberofmattersreferredtomediationcanbefoundinAppendix(I).
DetailedinformationaboutcasemanagementpracticesintheCourtofAppealissetoutinPracticeNoteSCCA1.
Court of Criminal AppealAccusedpersonsmayinitiallylodgeaNoticeofintentiontoAppeal,withoutspecifyingtheirgroundsofappeal.TheNoticeofIntentiontoAppealallowstheaccusedpersonsixmonths(orsuchlongertimeastheCourtgrants)tofileanappeal.Transcriptsandexhibitsarenowprovidedtoaccusedpersonsfreeofchargetofacilitatethepreparationofanappeal.
CasemanagementbeginswhenanappealorapplicationforleavetoappealisfiledintheRegistry.Theappealorleaveapplicationislistedforcalloverwithintwoweeksoffiling.Calloversareheldfortnightly,althoughspecialcalloverscanbeheldinurgentmatters.Atthecallover,thepresidingRegistrarwillfixahearingdateandmakedirectionsforthefilingandservingofsubmissionsbytheparties.TheRegistraralsomanagescasesthataredeemedtorequirespecialattention.
Generally,threeJudgeshearanappealorleaveapplication.TheChiefJusticemayalsodirectthatmorethanthreeJudgessitonanappealorleaveapplication,particularlyinmattersinvolvinganimportantissueoflaw.Insomecircumstances,theChiefJusticemaydirectthattwoJudgeshearanappealagainstsentence.SingleJudgeshearsentenceappealsfromtheDrugCourtofNewSouthWales,andalsodealwithbailapplicationsandotherinterlocutoryapplicationsintheCourt.
Common law DivisionCasemanagementintheCommonLawDivisionbeginswhenasummonsorstatementofclaimisfiledintheRegistry.Eachsummonsorstatementofclaim(withtheexceptionofdefaultmatters)isgivenareturndatebeforeaJudgeorRegistrarandplacedinaList.AJudgeisappointedtomanage
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Associate JudgeTheAssociateJudgeintheCommonLawDivisiondealswithstatutoryappealsfromtheLocalCourt(exceptundertheCrimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act2001).TheAssociateJudgealsodealswithapplicationsforsummaryjudgmentanddismissal,applicationsforextensionundertheLimitation Act1969,andcontestedapplicationstotransfermattersfromtheDistrictCourt.TheAssociateJudgemaydealwithothermattersasoutlinedinScheduleDoftheSupremeCourtRules1970.
MattersallocatedtotheAssociateJudge’sListarecasemanagedbyaRegistrardailyat9am.TheRegistrarrefersapplicationstotheAssociateJudgewhentheyarereadyforhearing.
lists of the Common law DivisionInadditiontotheabove,theworkoftheDivisionisalsodistributedamongstanumberofspecialisedLists.TheChiefJusticeappointsaspecificJudgetoberesponsibleforthemanagementofaListthroughouttheyear.TheseListsaresetoutbelowinalphabeticalorder,togetherwiththeJudgeappointedtomanageeachListin2016.
Specialised case management list
Judge managing list in 2016
AdministrativeLawList JusticeHall(until21December);JusticeAdamson(from22December)
CriminalList JusticeJohnson
DefamationList JusticeMcCallum
PossessionList JusticeDavies
ProfessionalNegligenceList
JusticeHarrison
Administrative Law ListTheAdministrativeLawListcomprisescasesthatseekareviewofthedecisionsofgovernment,publicofficialsandadministrativetribunals.
TheAdministrativeLawListoperatesinaccordancewiththeproceduresoutlinedinPracticeNoteSCCL3.
eachList,whiletheCommonLawListJudgemonitorsallcaseslistedforhearingbeforeaJudge.Registrarshandledefaultmattersadministratively.
Common law list JudgeTheCommonLawListJudgeallocatescaseslistedforhearingtospecificJudges.WhendecidingwhichJudgewillhearamatter,theListJudgeconsidersthetypeofcases,itsestimatedhearinglength,andwhethertheJudgehasotherCourtcommitments.TheListJudgealsohearsvariousapplicationsincasesalreadylistedforhearing,includingallapplicationsforadjournment.Fromtimetotime,theListJudgewillissuefurthercasemanagementdirectionsincasesalreadylistedforhearing.TheCommonLawListJudgeduring2016wasJusticeAdamson.
Common law Duty Judge TheDutyJudgeisavailableeachdaytohearurgentapplications,includingapplicationsforinterlocutoryinjunctions,duringandoutsidenormalCourthourswhenrequired.JudgesoftheDivisionarerosteredtoactastheDutyJudgeforaweekatatimeduringLawTerm.AVacationJudgeisrosteredduringthecourtvacationtoperformthisrole.
TheDutyJudgealsoconductsanapplicationslisteachMonday.TheapplicationsinthislistcannotbedeterminedbyanAssociateJudgeoraRegistrarandincludeappealsfromtheLocalCourtundertheCrimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act2001,applicationsforrestrainingorders,applicationsfordeclaratoryrelief,andapplicationstodispensewithajury.Mattersareinitiallylistedat9ambeforeaRegistrartodeterminewhethertheapplicationisreadytoproceed.TheDutyJudgemayspeciallyfixapplicationsthatcannotbeheardontheMondaytoalatertimeordate.
TheDutyJudgedeterminesinterlocutoryapplicationsforrestrainingassetsandissuesexaminationordersundertheConfiscation of Proceeds of Crime Act1989,Criminal Assets Recovery Act1990,andProceeds of Crime Act1987(Cth).TheDutyJudgealsoconsiders,inchambers,applicationsseekingauthorisationofwarrants,suchasthosemadeundertheSurveillance DevicesAct2007.
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Mattersfiledbefore1January2006arecasemanagedinanidenticalway,buttheissuesconsideredbythejurydifferslightly.Inthesematters,thejuryisaskedtoconsiderwhetherthemattercomplainedofcarriestheimputationalleged,andifitdoes,whethertheimputationisdefamatory.
PracticeNoteSCCL4governstheoperationofthisList.
General Case Management ListThisListcomprisesallCommonLawDivisioncivilclaimsthatarenotincludedintheAdministrativeLaw,Defamation,ProfessionalNegligenceorPossessionLists.Itincludesmoneyclaims,personalinjuryclaims,claimsforpossession(excludingland),breachofcontract,personalpropertydamage,maliciousprosecution,andclaimsundertheCompensation to Relatives Act1897.ThesecasesaremanagedbyaRegistrarwhoconductsstatusconferencesandfinalconferences.Atthestatusconference,theRegistrargivesdirectionstoensurethecaseisreadyforhearingbythecompliancedateandencouragestheearlyresolutionofdisputesthroughmediationorsettlement.
TheproceduresassociatedwiththerunningofthisListaresetoutinPracticeNoteSCCL5.
Possession ListThePossessionListdealswithallproceedingsseekingrecoverythroughthepossessionofland.ThemanagementoftheListencouragesearlyresolutionofcasesthroughmediation,otheralternativedisputeresolutionprocessesorsettlement.Casemanagementisalsousedtoclarifytherealissuesindispute.
PracticeNoteSCCL6appliestocasesinthisList.
Professional Negligence ListClaimsagainstmedicalpractitioners,alliedhealthprofessionals(suchasdentists,chemistsandphysiotherapists),hospitals,solicitorsandbarristersareallocatedtotheProfessionalNegligenceList.Specialisedcasemanagementencouragespartiestofocusontherealissuesunderdisputeinthesetypesofclaims.ARegistrarmonitorscasesatregularconferencehearings.Conferencehearingsprovideanopportunityforpartiestodiscuss
Bails ListApplicationsforbailortoreviewbaildeterminationscanbemadetotheSupremeCourtundertheBail Act1978inrespectofanypersonaccusedofanyoffence,evenifthetrialwillnotbeheardintheSupremeCourt.Theseapplicationsarelistedthroughouttheyear,includingduringthecourtvacation.CommonLawDivisionJudgesarerosteredonaweeklybasistodeterminetheseapplications.
Criminal ListArraignmenthearingsareheldeachmonthduringLawTerm.Theaimofthearraignmentprocedureistominimisethelossofavailablejudicialtimethatoccurswhentrialsarevacatedaftertheyarelistedforhearing,orwhenaguiltypleaisenteredimmediatelypriorto,oronthedayofthetrial’scommencement.
Thearraignmentprocedurecontemplatestheinvolvementofcounselatanearlystageoftheproceedings.Thisallowsboththeprosecutionanddefencetoconsiderarangeofissuesthatmayprovideanopportunityforanearlypleaofguilty,ortoshortenthedurationofthetrial.
TheproceduresforarraignmentaredetailedinPracticeNoteSCCL2.
Defamation ListMattersfiledinthisListafter1January2006aremanagedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheDefamation Act2005.MattersarefirstlistedbeforeaRegistrarfordirections.OncetheRegistrarissatisfiedthattheinitiatingprocessisinorder,heorshewillreferthemattertoaJudgeforfurtherdirectionsandlegalargument.ThepartiesmayalsoasktheJudgetoconsiderifthedisputeshouldbetriedbeforeajury.IftheJudgegrantsanapplicationfortrialbyajury,thematterwillbesetdownforhearing.Thejurywilldetermineifthematerialinquestionisdefamatoryandifthereisanylawfuldefenceforpublishingthematerial.Ifthejuryfindsthattheplaintiffhasbeendefamedwithoutanylawfuldefencebeingestablished,theJudgewillthendetermineanydamagespayableandresolveanyoutstandingissuesunderdispute.
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Specialised lists of the Equity DivisionTheEquityDivision’scaseloadisalsomanagedbyallocatingcertainmatterstospecificListsaccordingtothenatureoftheclaims.TheseListsaresetoutbelowinalphabeticalorder,togetherwiththeJudgeappointedtomanageeachListin2016.
Specialised case management list
Judge managing the list in 2016
AdmiraltyList JusticeRein
AdoptionsList JusticeBrereton
CommercialList JusticeHammerschlag
CommercialArbitrationList
JusticeHammerschlag
CorporationsList JusticeBreretonJusticeBlack
ExpeditionList JusticeSackar
FamilyProvisionList JusticeHallen
ProbateList JusticeLindsay
ProtectiveList JusticeLindsay
RevenueList JusticeWhite
TechnologyandConstructionList
JusticeHammerschlag
Admiralty ListTheAdmiraltyListdealswithmaritimeandshippingdisputes.ItisadministeredinthesamemannerastheCommercialList(seebelow).
Adoptions ListThisListdealswithapplicationsforadoptionordersanddeclarationsofthevalidityofforeignadoptionsundertheAdoptions Act2000.Mostapplicationsareunopposed.Onceallsupportingaffidavitsarefiled,aJudgewilldealwiththeapplicationintheabsenceofthepublic,andwithouttheattendanceoftheapplicantsortheirlawyers.Unopposedapplicationsrequirecloseattentionforcompliancewithformalrequirements,butthereislittledelay.Asmallnumberofcontentioushearingstakeplaceincourtintheabsenceofthepublic.Mostoftheserelatetodispensingwithconsenttoadoption.TheRegistrarinEquitydealswithrequestsforinformationundertheAdoptions Act2000.
outstandingissuesinthecase,andprovideaforumformediationbetweentheparties.TheProfessionalNegligenceListJudgehearsapplicationsandmakesdirectionsaccordingtothespecificneedsofeachmatter.
PracticeNoteSCCL7appliestothisList.
Equity DivisionProceedingsintheEquityDivisionarecasemanagedbyRegistrarsandJudgesoftheDivisiontoachievethejust,quickandcheapresolutionoftherealissuesindisputebetweenthelitigants.TheworkoftheDivisionisadministeredthroughtheGeneralListandanumberofspecialisedLists.
Expedition JudgeCasesareexpeditedwhensufficienturgencyisshown.ApplicationsforexpeditionaremadetotheExpeditionJudgeonFridays.TheExpeditionJudgecasemanagesallexpeditedcasesandhearsthosecaseswhentheyarereadyfortrial.During2016,theExpeditionJudgewasJusticeSackar.
Equity Duty JudgeAJudgeoftheDivisionisavailableatalltimesforurgentapplications.DutyJudgesarerosteredinblocksoftwoweeks.Ifamatterrequiresanurgentfinalhearing,theDutyJudgewillconsultwiththeChiefJudgewithregardtopossibleallocationofanurgentfinalhearingdate.
General listAllcasesotherthanthoseinthespecialisedLists,includingapplicationsforfamilyprovisionunderChapter3oftheSuccession Act2006orFamily Provision Act 1982,areenteredintotheGenerallist.
FamilyprovisionapplicationsaremanagedinaccordancewithPracticeNoteSCEq7bytheFamilyProvisionListJudge,whoalsosetsthecasesdownforhearing.OthercasesintheGeneralListaremanagedbytheRegistrarinEquityinaccordancewithPracticeNoteSCEq1.TheRegistrarsetscasesdownforhearingbeforetheJudgesoftheDivision.During2015,theRegistrarofferedpartiesahearingdatewithinthreetofourmonthsofthefinaldirectionshearing.TheRegistrarconsultswiththeChiefJudgeinEquityinrelationtolongand/orcomplexmatters.
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Probate ListTheworkperformedbytheJudgesandtheProbateRegistryconsistsofbothcontentiousandnon-contentiouscases.TheRegistrarandDeputyRegistrarsdealwiththemajorityofnon-contentiouscases.Thisincludesthegrantingofcommonformprobatewhereapplicationsareinorderandareunopposed.
BoththeProbateListJudgeandtheRegistrarshaveprocedureswherebysomesupervisioniskeptoverexecutorsinthefilingofaccounts,andensuringbeneficiariesarepaid.
Incourt,theRegistrarconsidersroutineapplications,andapplicationsconcerningaccounts.Shouldaroutineapplicationrequireadecisiononamatterofprinciple,theapplicationisreferredtotheProbateListJudge.
TheProbateListJudgesitsonceaweektodealwithcomplexapplications.Ifanapplicationcanbedealtwithquickly,itisusuallyheardimmediately.Othersaresetdownforhearing,normallywithinamonth.
ContentiousmattersaremonitoredbyeitheraJudgeoraRegistrar.Contentiousmatterscommonlyincludedisputesastoatestator’slastvalidwill.Whenthesecasesarereadytoproceed,theyareplacedinthecalloverlisttoreceiveahearingdatebeforeanEquityJudge.
Protective ListTheworkofthisLististoensurethattheaffairsofpeopledeemedincapableoflookingaftertheirproperty,orthemselves,areproperlymanaged.TheListalsodealswithappealsfromtheGuardianshipTribunalofNewSouthWales,alongwithapplications(inchambers)bytheNewSouthWalesTrusteeandGuardianforadviceregardingtheadministrationofestates.TheCourtalsoconsidersapplicationsregardingmissingpersons’estatesand,incertaincircumstances,mayorderthattheirestatebemanagedundertheNSW Trustee and Guardian Act2009.
OftentheissuesunderdisputeintheProtectiveListareofahighlysensitivenature.TheCourtacknowledgesthissituation,andhandlestheseproceedingswiththeminimumdegreeofformality.
Commercial ListTheCommercialListisconcernedwithcasesarisingoutoftransactionsintradeorcommerce.ThecasemanagementstrategyappliedtotherunningofthisListaimstohavemattersbroughtonforhearingquicklyby:
• attendingtothetrueissuesatanearlystage• ensuringwitnessstatementsareexchangedina
timelymanner• intensemonitoringofthepreparationof
everycase.
Thereisalsoadherencetotheallottedhearingdates,andhearingsarecontinuedtoconclusion,eventhoughtimeestimatesmaybeexceeded.
Commercial Arbitration ListTheListprovidespartieswithaquickandeffectivemechanismforresolvingdisputesinrelationtoarbitrationagreements,orwhichariseinthecontextof,orfrom,arbitralproceedings.
DisputesenteredintotheListarisefromthecontextofarbitralproceedingsinwhichtheCourthasprescribedjurisdictionintheCommercial Arbitration Act2010,orbyvirtueofaprovisionwithinanarbitrationagreement,orotherwise.
TheJudgeassignedtomanagetheListcallsoverallpendingapplicationsfortnightly,andpartiestomattersenteredintotheListareexpectedtocomplywiththeprovisionsofPracticeNoteSCEq9.
Corporations ListARegistrarsitsfourdaysaweektohearmostapplicationsandhearingsundertheCorporations Act2001(Cth)andrelatedlegislation.TheRegistrarmayreferapplicationstotheJudgeonaMonday.TheRegistrardeterminesroutineapplicationstowind-upcompanies,applicationsforleavetoproceedagainstcompaniesinliquidation(limitedtopersonalinjuryactions)andapplicationstoreinstatecompanies.
TheJudgewillgivedirectionsandmonitorpreparationsforhearinginlongermatters,aswellasinothercomplexcorporatecases.CasesmanagedinthisListaregenerallygivenahearingdateassoonastheyareready.
PracticeNoteSCEq4appliestocasesenteredintotheCorporationsList.
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REGIONAl SITTINGS OF THE COURT
In2016,theCourtconductedhearingsandtrialsatAlbury,Bega,Dubbo,Grafton,Griffith,Lismore,Moruya,NewcastleandQueanbeyan.
CriminaltrialsandcivilhearingswillcontinuetobeheldinvenuesoutsideSydneyasrequired.
However,whenthereisadisputethatcannotbesolvedinthisway,itisdecidedmoreformally.
TheProtectiveListRegistrarsitsincourtonedayaweek.TheRegistrarmayreferacasetobedeterminedbytheJudgewithoutfurtherappearanceoradjournacaseintotheJudge’slist.AJudgesitsonceaweektodealwithanyreferredcases.MostcasesareconsideredontheJudge’susualsittingdayassoonasthepartiesareready.Longercases,however,arespeciallyfixed,usuallywithinonemonth.
Real Property ListTheRealPropertyListwasestablishedinJune2015tomanagedisputesoverlandthatthefilingpartyseekstoresolvethroughequitablerelief,ratherthanrecoveringamonetarysumasdamagesordebtunderthecommonlaw.Thedisputescouldrelatetoacontractforthesaleofland,orissueswithleases,easements,covenantsorstrataandcommunityschemes.TheRealPropertyListJudgesitsweeklytomanagenewcasesandcomplexinterlocutoryapplicationsthathavebeengivenleavetoproceed.TheRegistrarprovidessupporttotheListJudgebyhandlingproceduralapplicationsforsubstitutedservice,securityforcostsortosetasidesubpoenasandnoticestoproduce.
PracticeNoteSCEq12appliestocasesenteredintotheRealPropertyList.
Revenue ListTheRevenueListisdedicatedtothehearingoftaxationmatters.TheListwascreatedtoensurethatthesemattersareheardasefficientlyaspossible.MattersintheRevenueListareheardbyaspecificEquityDivisionJudgeeachmonth,andallocatedtheearliesthearingdatepossiblebeforethissameJudge.
PracticeNoteSCEq10appliestocasesenteredintotheRevenueList.
Technology and Construction ListCasesinvolvingcomplextechnologicalissuesanddisputesarisingoutofbuildingorengineeringcontractsareallocatedtothisList.TheListismanagedbythesameJudgeandinthesamemannerasthoseintheCommercialList.
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AlTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOlUTION
bereferredtomediation,thereareseveralwaysinwhichamediatormaybeappointed.Ifthepartiesareinagreementastoaparticularmediator,theycanasktheCourttoappointthatmediatorortheymayagreetomediationbyaRegistraroftheCourt.Ifpartiescannotagreeuponamediator,theyshouldattempttoagreeonhowtheCourtcanappointaqualifiedmediator.SomeoptionsaresetoutinPracticeNoteSCGen6.
SettlementofdisputesbymediationisencouragedintheCourtofAppealandintheCommonLawandEquityDivisions.Partiesmayderivethefollowingbenefitsfrommediation:
• anearlyresolutiontotheirdispute• lowercosts• greaterflexibilityinresolvingthedisputeas
thesolutionsthatmaybeexploredthroughmediationarebroaderthanthoseopentotheCourt’sconsiderationinconventionallitigation.
Evenwheremediationfailstoresolveamatterentirelyandthedisputeproceedstocourt,theimpactofmediationcanoftenbecomeapparentatthesubsequentcontestedhearing.Mediationoftenhelpstodefinetherealissuesandfactsindisputeandthismayresultinareductionincourttimeand,consequently,lowerlegalcosts.
Alternativedisputeresolutionisabroadtermthatreferstothemeansbywhichpartiesseektoresolvetheirdispute,withtheassistanceofaneutralperson,butwithoutaconventionalcontestedhearingbeforeaJudgeorAssociateJudge.ThealternativedisputeresolutionmethodmostcommonlyemployedinSupremeCourtproceedingsismediation.
MediationMediationisavailableformostcivilproceedingspursuanttoPart4oftheCivil Procedure Act2005.Mediationisnotavailableincriminalproceedings.
Theroleofthemediatoristoassistpartiesinresolvingtheirdisputebyalertingthemtopossiblesolutions,whileallowingthepartiestochoosewhichoptionisthemostagreeable.Themediatordoesnotimposeasolutionontheparties.NinequalifiedRegistrarsandDeputyRegistrarswerecertifiedtoconductmediationsthroughout2016atspecifiedtimeseachweek.Alternatively,partiesmayuseprivatemediators.
Amattermayproceedtomediationattherequestoftheparties,ortheCourtmayreferappropriateproceedingstomediation,withorwithouttheconsentofparties.IftheCourtordersthatamatter
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3 COURT OPERATIONS
• Overviewofoperationsbyjurisdiction
• Timeliness
– Measurementagainstbenchmarks
– Listingdelays
• UseofAlternativeDisputeResolution
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OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS BY JURISDICTION **tobereadinconjunctionwithAppendix(I)
Court of AppealThenetnumberofnewcasescomingtotheCourtofAppealwas397thisyear.Thisisfivepercenthigherthanthenumberin2015butstill14-20percentlowerthanintheyears2012to2014.
Theprincipalsourcesofnewcasesin2016were:SupremeCourtdecisions(52percent)andDistrictCourtdecisions(34percent).Thesepercentagesareconsistentwiththoseseeninthethreeyears2012to2014.In2015,however,thepercentageshadbeenappreciablydifferent:60percentofnewcasescamefromSupremeCourtdecisionsand28percentcamefromDistrictCourtdecisions.
In2016,52percentofnewcasescommencedbynoticeofappeal,36percentbysummonsseekingleavetoappeal,and12percentbysummonsfortheCourtofAppealtoexerciseitsoriginaljurisdiction.
Thenetnumberofdisposalswas423thisyear,whichistwopercentlowerthanlastyearbutconsistentwiththereductioninnewcasescomingtotheCourtofAppealsince2014.Overall,during2016,finaldisposalsoccurredbythefollowingmethods:
• settlement,orelsenon-progressiontoanappealfollowingagrantofleavetoappeal–14percent;
• judgmentfollowinghearingofeitheranappeal,anoriginaljurisdictionsummonsoraconcurrenthearing(aconcurrenthearingenablestheapplicationforleavetoappealand,whereleaveisgranted,theconsequentappealtobedeterminedinasinglehearing)–65percent;
• refusal,strikingoutorotherfinaldisposalofanapplicationforleavetoappeal–15percent;
• strikingoutorotherfinaldisposalofeitheranappealoranoriginaljurisdictionsummons–6percent.
TheoverallCourtofAppealcaseloadattheendof2016was210cases,an11percentreductionfromtheendof2015.Ofthe210pendingcases,54(26percent)werecasesforwhichthequestionofleavetoappealhadyettobedetermined.
TheageprofileoftheCourtofAppeal’spendingcaseloadmadeafurtherslightimprovementduring2016andbytheendoftheyearitmetorexceeded
thenationalbenchmarks(seeFigure3.1).Attheendoftheyeartheproportionofpendingcaseswithin12monthsofagewas91percent(19caseswereolderthan12months).Nocasewasolderthan24months.
Duringmostof2016,thelistingdelayfornon-urgenthearingofsubstantiveappealsandforconcurrenthearingswasthreemonths.Itsettledat1monthforthestartofthe2017lawterm.Hearingsforleaveapplicationsalonearelistedmorequickly,andthelistingdelayforthesewas1.5monthsorlessthroughout2016,settlingatlessthanonemonthforthestartofthe2017lawterm.
Figure3.1Court of Appeal achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
91%
99%
91%
100%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2015 Achieved in 2016
Court of Criminal AppealThenumberofnewcasescomingtotheCourtofCriminalAppealwas362thisyear,sixpercenthigherthanthenumberin2015.Overthepastfiveyears,thefilingratehasbeenrelativelystable.
Theprincipalsourcesofcriminalappealsin2016were:DistrictCourtdecisions(83percent)andSupremeCourtdecisions(13percent).Overthelastfiveyears,79-88percentofnewcaseshavecomefromDistrictCourtdecisionsand8-15percenthavecomefromSupremeCourtdecisions.
Thenewcasesin2016included237appealsagainstseverityofsentence(ofwhich51wereappealsbytheCrown),71appealsagainstconviction,39appealsagainstinterlocutory
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Figure3.2Court of Criminal Appeal achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
94%
99%
99%
100%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2015 Achieved in 2016
Common law Division criminal casesTheCriminalListregistered102newcases(defendants)in2016,comparedwith118during2015and72during2014.Ofthe102newcasesfor2016,85involvedhomicidecharges.AfterentryintotheCriminalList,thenextstepusuallyisarraignment.Themajorityofdefendantsenterapleaof“notguilty”atarraignment,andthearraignmentconcludeswiththosecasesbeinglistedfortrial.Nearlyalltrialsareconductedwithajury.
Atotalof102triallistings(6ofthesewerelistingsforjudge-alonetrials)wereorderedatarraignmentsduring2016,withthetrialssettostartineither2016or2017.Additionally,10defendantswerelistedforfitnesshearings(todealwiththequestionofthedefendant’scapacitytostandtrial)and5defendantswerelistedforsentence(followingentryofthedefendant’spleaof“guilty”atarraignment).
During2016,atotalof38pleasof“guilty”weretaken,comparedwith16during2015.Notonlythenumber,butalsothetiming,of“guilty”pleascansignificantlyaffecttheoperationoftheCriminalList:fewerpleasof“guilty”enteredatarraignmentleadtomorecasesqueuingfortrials,andthishasthepotentialtoincreaselistingdelaysandthusthetimetofinalisecases.In2016therewereonly5pleasof“guilty”enteredatarraignment,comparedwith8in2015and14in2014.Somedefendantschange
judgmentsand27casesofothertypes.During2016nocaseswerereturnedfromtheHighCourtforre-hearing.
In2016,convictionappealsmadeup21percentoffilings,whichismoretypicalthanthesituationseenoverthepreviousfiveyearswhenconvictionappealsmadeup25to27percentoffilings.Convictionappealsaremorecomplexandtypicallyrequirelongerhearingsthanappealsagainstseverityofsentence.Hearingsforconvictionappealsareusuallyatleastdoublethelengthofthoseforseverity-onlyappeals,andsometimesextendtoawholedayorlonger.
Thenumberofdisposalswas385thisyear,fourpercentlessthanthenumberlastyear.Ofthe385disposalsthisyear,336werebyjudgmentfollowingasubstantivehearing(thesameasduring2015),and37werebytheappellantabandoningorwithdrawingtheappeal(comparedwith39during2015).
Thisyear,again,thenumberofdisposalsexceededthenumberoffilings,soagainthependingcaseloaddecreased–from168to145cases.
TheageprofileoftheCourtofCriminalAppeal’scaseloadimprovedagainduring2016and,bytheendoftheyear,itmetorwellexceededthenationalbenchmarks(seeFigure3.2).Thenumberofoldercaseshasbeenreduced:casesolderthan12monthsdecreasedfrom10totwo,whilethenumberofcasesolderthan24monthsdecreasedfromfourtonone.
During2016thelistingdelayfornon-urgenthearingofcriminalappealsfluctuatedbetween2.5andfourmonths.Itsettledat1.5monthsforthestartofthe2017lawterm.Interlocutoryappealsarelistedmorequicklyaccordingtotheirurgency.
TheCourtofCriminalAppealenters2017withitsageprofileandlistingdelayinanessentiallyoptimalcondition.
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During2016,atotalof105defendants’caseswerefinalised,comparedwith88during2015and92during2014.TheCourtpreparedandhandeddown75sentencesduring2016,comparedwith61during2015and68during2014.
Bytheendof2016,therewere112defendantswithcasespendingintheCriminalList,adecreaseofthreepercentfromthepositionattheendof2015(115defendants).Thevariationinthenumberoffilingsandthenumberofdisposalsfromyeartoyearcontributestolargechanges,onapercentagebasis,inthependingcaseloadfromyeartoyear.
Withtherelativelylownumberofcasesinthisresource-intensivelist,theageprofilecanalsoshowsomevolatility.TheageprofileforpendingcasesintheCriminalListworsenedduring2016(seeFigure3.3)withrespecttothenumberofcasesolderthan12months(increasedfrom22to32),althoughthenumberofcasesolderthan24monthsdecreasedfromsixtofive.ManyoftheoldestcasesintheCriminalListhavebeendelayedbytheneedtore-listorre-starttrials(insomecasesinvolvingverylonghearingestimates),interlocutoryappeals,andtheneedtoaccommodateverylongtrials.
TheimpactoftheXietrialcontinuedduring2016.ThattrialhadbeencommittedtotheSupremeCourtinDecember2012,andtheCourtreceivedaninitialhearingestimateof4months.Thetrialwasstartedin2014butcollapsedtwiceatrelativelyearlystages.Itwasstartedforathirdtimeinearly2015,butwitharevisedhearingestimateof6months,andover-ranto10months,concludingwithahungjury.In2016thetrialstartedforafourthtimeandranfromJune2016untilJanuary2017,withthejuryfindingthedefendantguilty.ThesentencewashandeddowninFebruary2017.ThetotalhearingtimeoccupiedbytheXietrialcouldhaveaccommodated12-14trialsofaveragelength.
WhenevaluatingtheCourt’sperformanceagainstthenationalbenchmarksitisimportanttonotethatalmostallindictmentspresentedtothisCourtareforoffencesofmurderormanslaughter,orotherwisehavethepotentialforalifesentencetobeimposed.Incontrast,thecriminallistsofmostotherAustraliansupremecourtsdealroutinelywithabroaderrangeofchargesthatincludeslessermaximumsentences.Thenational
theirpleato“guilty”afterbeinggivenatrialdate–sometimesthechangeoccursaslateasthestartof,orduring,thetrial–anditisnotalwayspossibletore-assignthattrial-timetoanothercase.
ForcriminaltrialsarraignedduringtheyearthehearingestimatesgiventotheCourtrangedfromlessthan1weekto4months.Fortrials(notstartedornotconcluded)onhandattheendofeachmonth,theaveragehearingestimatewasbetween5.0and6.2weeks.
FormanyyearstheCriminalListhasusedcapacityforlistingthree-weektrialsasthestandardformeasuringitslistingdelay.However,theaveragehearingestimateforcriminaltrialshasincreased:consequently,inNovember2016,thestandardreferenceformeasuringlistingdelayforcriminaltrialsbecamethefour-weektrial.Atthefirstarraignmentsofthe2017lawterm,thelistingdelaywas7.3monthsforcriminaltrialsrequiringatleastfourweeksoftrialtime.Thelistingdelayforcriminaltrialscanvaryduringtheyear,especiallywhenseverallongtrialsarelistedsimultaneously,whenlongtrialsmustbevacatedandre-listed,orwhendefendantspleadguiltyaftertheirtrialhasbeensetorstarted.
Trialsfor81defendantswerelistedtostartduring2016.Fornineofthosedefendantsthetrialeithercollapsedorwasadjourned(thishappenedfor10defendantsduring2015andforeightdefendantsduring2014).Re-startingorre-listingtrialsfollowingcollapseoradjournmentreducestheCourt’scapacitytodealwithitsbacklogofcases.
Fortheeleventhconsecutiveyear,notrialwas“notreached”(asituationwheretheCourt,ratherthantheparties,cannotstartalistedtrial).Over-listingofcriminaltrialsoccursinaverylimitedform.Withover-listingthereissomeriskof“notreaching”alistedtrial.Additionally,trialsthatover-runtheirestimatedhearingtimecanjeopardisetheCourt’sabilitytostartotherlistedtrials.TheCourtisawareofthefinancialimpactforthevariouspubliclyfundedagenciesinvolvedinthecriminaljusticesystem,andoftheemotionalandfinancialimpactforthefamilyofvictimsandforwitnesses,whentrialsareunabletorun.ItisahighpriorityfortheCourttoallocateitsresourcessothateverycriminaltrialcanstartonitslistedday.
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Common law Division civil casesThecivilworkoftheCommonLawDivisioncanbeseparatedintotwobroadgroups:contestedordefendedcases(includingthespecialisedcase-managedlists)andcasesrequiringnocase-management(suchasuncontestedcasesproceedingtodefaultjudgment,andthemiscellaneousapplicationsdealtwithadministrativelybyregistrarsandregistryofficers).
Overall,therewere3,216civilfilingsintheDivisionduring2016,adecreaseofninepercentfromthenumberin2015(3,538).TheprincipalareaofreductionwasthePossessionList(wheretypicallyaround94percentofcasesareuncontested).OtherareasofdecreasedfilingsweretheCommonLawGeneralListandAdministrativeLawList.FilingsincreasedintheProfessionalNegligenceListandDefamationList.Whiletherewasareductionof9percentinfilingsoverall,weestimatethatforcasesthatwouldrequirecase-managementthereductioninfilingswaslessthan5percent.
During2016thedisposalratewaseightpercentlowerthanin2015.ThiswasprincipallyduetotheongoingreductioninworkforthePossessionList.Thetotalof3,301disposalsincluded1,394contestedcases,ofwhich442hadbeenlistedforatleastonehearing.Theremaining1,907disposalswereuncontestedcases:apartfromthe437disposalsofmiscellaneousapplications,therewere718uncontestedcasesdismissedforinactivityand588finalisedbydefaultjudgment.During2016theRegistryreceivedatotalof707applicationsfordefaultjudgment,allofwhichwereeithergrantedorrequisitionedwithfiveworkingdays.
ThenumberofpendingcasesintheCommonLawDivisiondecreasedbythreepercentduring2016(seeFigure3.4)butthedecreaseisonlywithintheuncontestedcaseload.Thenumberofcasesonhandrequiringcasemanagementhasessentiallyremainedstable(1,693attheendof2016,comparedwith1,694attheendof2015).
TheJusticeLinksystemisusedtoreporttheageofpendingcivilcases(seeFigure3.5).ThenationalbenchmarkmeasuresaresetbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services.Inactivecasesthatshouldhavebeenclosedwere
timelinessbenchmarkof12monthsfromcommittaltosentencingisthereforeachallengingtargetforthisCourt.Additionally,therelativelysmallsizeoftheListallowsjustafewcasestomakestatisticallysignificantchangestopercentageswithinthatcaseload,andthosepercentagesarethencomparedwiththenationalbenchmarks.AccesstoactingjudgesisinvaluableinmaintaininganacceptableageprofilefortheCriminalList,astheonlyalternativewouldbetotakepermanentlyappointedjudgesawayfromotherareasofwork.
During2016atotalof3,996applicantslodgedapplicationsintheBailsList,adecreaseofninepercentfromthetotalin2015(4,401).Thenumberofdisposalsalsodecreased-bysixpercent,from4,201to3,991.Becauselodgmentsanddisposalswerealmostequalduringtheyear,thependingcaseloadhasbarelychanged(742attheendof2016,comparedwith743attheendof2015).ThelistingdelayforBailsListhearingshasimprovedslightly:forpubliclyaidedadultsitdecreasedfrom10.5weeks(atthestartoftheyear)tonineweeksbythestartofthe2017lawterm.Thelistingdelayislongerthanideal.WhiletheCourtallocatesextrajudgestotheBailsListfromtimetotimetoreducethedelay,theeffectivenessofthisstrategyislimitedbythecapacityofotherjusticeagenciesthatarevitalparticipantsintheoperationoftheBailsList.Juvenileapplicationsaregivenpriorityandarelistedwithintwoweeks.
Figure3.3Criminal list achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
81%
95%
71%
96%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2015 Achieved in 2016
27
Figure3.4Common law Division pending civil caseloads at 31 December
1,86
8
903
2,77
1
1,69
4
973
2,66
7
1,69
3
899
2,59
2
0
7,000
Contested/defended cases
Uncontested cases Total
2014 2015 2016
Figure3.5Common law Division civil lists – achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
69%
84%
68%
85%
0%
100%
National benchmark Achieved in 2015 Achieved in 2016
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
presentinthecaseloadupuntiltheendof2014.Consequently,theappropriatepointfromwhichtomeasurechangesintheageprofileisfromtheendof2014onwards.During2016,theproportionoftheDivision’scivilcaseloadwithin12monthsofagereducedslightlyfrom69percentto68percent,andtheproportionwithin24monthsofageimprovedslightlyfrom84percentto85percent.Overtheyear,thenumberofcasesolderthan12monthswasreducedbyseven,andthenumberofcasesolderthan24monthswasreducedby37.
During2016,thelistingdelayfornon-urgenthearingofCommonLawDivisioncivilcasesthatrequiredfivedaysofhearingtimefluctuatedbetweenfiveand11months.Forthestartofthe2017lawterm,thelistingdelayhadsettledat1.8monthsfortwo-dayhearings,7.3monthsforfive-dayhearings,and7.0monthsforten-dayhearings.CivilhearingscomprisejustoneareaofworkcoveredbytheJudgesofCommonLawDivision(seethesection“ListingDelays”laterinthischapter)andthetaskofbalancingthelimitedjudicialresourcesbetweenallareasoftheDivisionischallenging.
Duringtheyear,945matterswerelistedforahearingofeitherthesubstantiveissuesorlengthyinterlocutoryissues(seeFigure3.6).Ofthoselistedmatters,515proceededtoahearing,331settledafterbeinglistedforhearingand94successfullyappliedtovacatethehearinglisting.ThisinformationiscollatedindependentlyoftheJusticeLinksystem.
Sothatavailablejudicialtimeisusedoptimally,theCommonLawDivision’scivilhearingsareover-listed.Thiscarriesariskthatsomecasesmaybe“notreached”.During2016,therewerefivehearings“notreached”.Since2007theDivisionhasmaintaineda“notreached”rateofonepercentorless.
28
andthosefortheRealPropertyListareyettosettle,soannualtrendsforbothlistswillnotemergereliablyuntilnextyear.Otherlistsshowedrelativelysmallchanges.
Overall,thedisposalratefortheDivisionwas16percentlowerin2016thanin2015–thisrelatesdirectlytothereductioninworkfortheCorporationsList.AuditingofinactiveEquityDivisioncasescontinuedintoearly2016butitsimpactonthenumberofdisposalsrecordedfor2015and2016wasmuchsmallerthanondisposalsrecordedfor2014.
Overall,thenumberofpendingcasesintheEquityDivisiondecreasedbyonlyonepercentduring2016(seeFigure3.7).Whilethereweresubstantialreductionsduring2016inthependingcaseloadsoftheCommercialList,familyprovisioncasesandtheTechnologyandConstructionList,therewereclearincreasesintheCorporationsListandAdoptionsList,andwithinthecontentiouscasesoftheProbateList.
TheJusticeLinksystemisusedtoreporttheageofpendingcivilcases(seeFigure3.8).ThenationalbenchmarkmeasuresaresetbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services.TheageofpendingEquityDivisioncasesshowedsignificantimprovementduring2014,whenauditingenabledalargenumberofinactivecasestobefinallyclosed.Auditingcontinuedthroughtoearly2016butresultedinonlyasmallnumbercaseclosuresduring2015and2016.TheageprofileofEquityDivisioncasesattheendofDecember2016wasunchangedfromtwelvemonthsearlier:71percentoftheDivision’scaseswerewithin12monthsofageand89percentwerewithin24monthsofage.Overtheyear,thenumberofcasesolderthan12monthswasreducedby12,andthenumberofcasesolderthan24monthswasreducedbyone.
During2016thelistingdelayfortwo-dayhearingsofnon-urgentGeneralListorProbateListcasestimerangedbetweenoneand6.3months.Bythestartofthe2017lawtermthelistingdelayhadsettledat5.3monthsfortwo-dayhearings,sixmonths
Figure3.6listings for hearing – common law civil hearings
829
977
945
0
1000
2014 2015 2016
2014 2015 2016
Equity DivisionThefollowinganalysisoftheoperationaltrendswithintheEquityDivisiondoesnotincludeuncontestedprobatecases.Thevolumeofuncontestedprobatecasesissolargethat,ifincluded,itwouldmasktheimportanttrendsforallothercasesintheEquityDivision.Uncontestedprobatecasesarediscussedseparatelyattheendofthissection.
Overall,therewere4,220filingsintheDivisionduring2016,adecreaseof18percentfromthenumberin2015(5,168).TheprincipalareaofreductionwastheCorporationsList(ahigh-volumelistwheretypicallyover85percentofcasesarecase-managedandfinalisedbytheregistrar,withoutrequiringanylistingbeforeajudge).ToamuchlesserextentthereweredecreasedfilingsintheProtectiveList,CommercialListandAdmiraltyList.Filingsincreasedforfamilyprovisioncases,contentiousProbateListcases,theAdoptionsListandTechnologyandConstructionList.TheRealPropertyListwascreatedin2015andmanyofitscasesareofatypeformerlycommencedintheEquityGeneralList:theoperationalstatisticsfortheEquityGeneralList(otherthanforfamilyprovisioncases)arethereforenowre-setatadifferentlevel,
29
Figure3.7Equity Division pending civil caseloads at 31 December
1,6
29
336 748
2,7
13
1,5
70
331 9
13
2,8
14
1,4
09
357 1
,007
2,7
73
0
5,000
General List Corporations List
Other specialised
lists
Total
2014 2015 2016
Figure3.8Equity Division - achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2015 Achieved in 2016
90%
100%
71%
89%
71%
89%
0%
100%
forfive-dayhearingsand6.5monthsfor10-dayhearings.SomejudgesoftheEquityDivisionhavebeenassignedforshortperiodstohearcasesinotherareasoftheCourtsothatlistingdelaysaremanagedacrossallareasofwork.
TheJusticeLinksystemdoesnotprovidereliablereportsregardingtheoutcomesofmatterslistedforhearing,andtherearenomanuallymaintainedstatistics,sohearingratesandsettlementratescannotbereported.Since2014theEquityDivisionhasover-listedhearingstoasmallextent,andnocaseshavebeenrecordedas“notreached”.
UncontestedprobateapplicationsarehandledbytheCourt’sregistrars–theseapplicationsareforagrantofprobate,agrantoflettersofadministration,orare-seal(ofaprobategrantedelsewhere).During2016,atotalof26,243applicationswerefiled(only165fewerthanthenumberfiledduring2015).Ifanapplicationmeetsallproceduralrequirementswhenlodged,agrantwillbemadeoninitialprocessing.Duringthefirsthalfof2016thewaitingtimeforinitialprocessingincreasedsubstantiallytoaslongas35workingdays.Thesecondhalfoftheyearshowedastrongimprovement,andthedelaywasreducedtosixworkingdaysbythestartofthe2017lawterm.
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TIMElINESS
Division,theCourtreportsthosecaseswithintheappropriateDivisionandnotincombinationwithCourtofAppealcases;andthirdly,theCourt’sreportsincludeallpendingcases,whereastheProductivityCommission’scountingrulesallowforexclusionofpendingcasesthathavebeeninactiveforatleast12months.
Appendix(I)allowscomparisonoftheCourt’spositionwiththenationalbenchmarkssetbytheProductivityCommission.ThosebenchmarksareapplicabletoAustralia’ssupremecourtsanddistrict/countycourts,regardlessofthecase-mixofthosecourts.Withregardtocriminalnon-appealcases,therangeofchargesroutinelybroughtincriminallistsofsupremecourtsvariesacrossthecountry.ThisCourthearsonlycriminalcasesinvolvingchargesofmurderormanslaughterorwherethereisotherwisethepotentialforalifesentencetobeimposed;forsuchcasesa12-monthtimeframefromcommittaltosentencingischallenging.Withregardtocivilnon-appealcases,itisworthnotingthateverySupremeCourtinthecountryhasdifficultymeetingthebenchmarks(seeTable7A.21ofthelatestReport on Government ServicespublishedbytheProductivityCommission).
ThisistheseventhyearofreportingthesizeandageprofileofthecivilcaseloadsoftheCommonLawandEquityDivisionsusingdataextractedfromtheNSWcourts’caseinformationsystem,JusticeLink.Theextractionofdatawascontinuallyrefinedfrom2009throughto2012,atwhichpointtheCourtobtainedreportsthatwerebetterabletoidentifyinactivecivilcases.Since2012,theCourthasbeenauditingtoidentifythemanyinactivecasesthathadaccumulatedfrom2009.AuditingwassubstantiallycompletedfortheCommonLawDivisionattheendof2014,andfortheEquityDivisioninearly2016.Weestimatethatmorethan5,000inactivecivilcaseshavebeenclosedasaresult.TheimpactoftheauditsneedstobetakenintoaccounttounderstandchangesinthesizeandageprofileoftheCourt’scivilcaseloadsince2010.
Measurement against benchmarksTheCourt’sperformanceindealingwithcasesinatimelywayisreportedintermsoftheageofthependingcaseload.MeasurementoftheagedistributionwithinapendingcaseloadhelpstheCourttoassessmorequicklywhetherdelayreductionstrategiesaresuccessfulandtoidentifyareaswherefurthercasemanagementwouldbebeneficial.
Courtsandotherorganisationsmayusedifferentmethodstomeasuretheageofcasesorthetimelinessofcasehandling,andthiscanproducestatisticsthatarenotnecessarilycomparable.Tocitecriminalcasesasanexample,somecourtsreportperformancebymeasuringthetimebetweencommittalandthecommencementoftrial,whiletheAustralianBureauofStatisticsproducesnationalstatisticsthatmeasurethetimefromcommittaltoeitheracquittalorsentencing.TheinformationinAppendix(I)concerningageofpendingcasesusesthesamedefinitionsofcommencementandfinalisationasareusedbyProductivityCommissioninitsReport on Government Services.
Appendix(I)showsthepositionthisCourtreachedat31Decemberforeachreportedyearwithregardtotheageofitspendingcaseload.Forcriminalmatters(includingcriminalappeals)themethodofmeasurementalignsfullywiththemethodusedbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services.FortheCourtofAppeal,thereportinghereisalsoalignedwiththemethodsusedbytheProductivityCommissionbutisconfinedtothosecaseslodgedintheCourtofAppeal(whereastheProductivityCommission’sfigurescoverallcivilcasesthatareappellateinnature,notjustthoselodgedintheCourtofAppeal).ForcivilcasesintheCommonLawandEquityDivisions,theCourt’sreportingdiffersfromtheProductivityCommission’smethods:firstly,theCourtreportsseparatelyforeachDivision;secondly,forcasesthatareappellateinnaturebutheardintheCommonLaworEquity
31
FortherepresentativehearinglengthsdescribedinAppendix(I),overthe12monthsleadinguptothestartoflawterm2017:
• appellatelistingdelaysimprovedto1monthintheCourtofAppealandimprovedto1.5monthsintheCourtofCriminalAppeal;
• criminaltriallistingdelaysincreasedto7.3months;
• BailsListhearingdelaysimprovedto9weeks;• CommonLawDivisioncivilhearingdelays
increasedto7.3months;and• EquityDivisioncivilhearingdelaysincreasedto
5.3months.
Thelistingdelayforappellatecasesisatanoptimallevel.Temporaryre-allocationofjudicialtimemaybeconsideredtoaddresslistingdelaysthatareofconcerninotherareasofwork.
TheCommonLawDivisionover-listsitscivilcasesforhearing,andin2016fivehearingswere“notreached”(asituationwherethepartiesarereadytoproceedbuttheCourtisunabletoprovideajudgeforthehearing).Thereare22to23permanentlyappointedjudgescurrentlyassignedtotheCommonLawDivision-theyhearnotonlythecriminalandciviltrialsoftheDivision,butalsopresideovertheBailsListandaretheprincipaljudicialresourcefortheCourtofCriminalAppeal.Thetaskofappropriatelybalancingandre-balancingtheallocationofCommonLawDivisionjudgestothesefourareasofworkischallenging.Withoutaccesstoactingjudges,thelistingdelaysacrosstheCommonLawDivisionwouldhavebeenmoredifficulttobalance,andwouldmostlikelyhaveresultedinlongerdelaysinoneormoreareas.
listing delaysThereportedlistingdelaysindicatethetimelinesswithwhichtheCourtcanallocatenon-urgenthearingsforvarioustypesofcasesthathavebeenassessedasreadyforhearing,providingthepartiesarewillingtoselectfromthefirstavailablegroupofhearingdatesofferedbytheCourt.Listingdelayschangeduringtheyearandupdatedinformationispublisheddailyinthecourtlist.
ThetableoflistingdelaysinAppendix(I)showsthelistingdelaysthatappliedatthestartofthenewlawtermfollowingthecloseofthereportingyear.Thelistingdelaysrefertohearing-timerequirementsthatareconsideredrepresentativeortypicalofthevariousareasoftheCourt,asexplainedinthefootnotestothetable.Thisstandardisedmeasurementoflistingdelays,incontrasttomeasurementoftheageofpendingcasesorcasefinalisationtimes,focusesontheCourt’smanagementofitsownresourcestodelivertimelyhearings.Itisdistinctfromotherfactorsthatlengthencasefinalisationtime,suchasdelaysinservingcourtdocuments,delayscausedbytheneedtojoinadditionalpartiestoproceedings,timetakenupwithinterlocutoryissuesorappeals,timeneededforpartiestopreparetheirevidence,timethatelapseswhilepartiesattemptmediation,andthedelayscausedwhenpartiesrequestatrialdatethatislaterthanthefirstavailable.During2016,therepresentativehearing-timerequirementforCriminalListcaseswaschanged:formerlyitwasa3-weektrialbutnowitisa4-weektrial.
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USE OF AlTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOlUTION
TheSupremeCourtsupportsmediationasamethodofalternativedisputeresolutionforSupremeCourtcivilproceedings.Litigantsinanycontestedcivilcase(includingappeals)canconsiderusingmediation.Mediationisgenerallyinapplicableforcaseswherenodefendantconteststheclaimandinapplicationsforanuncontestedgrantofprobate,foradoptionofchildren,towindupcompanies,forrecoveryofproceedsofcrimeandforthemiscellaneousapplicationswhereonlyadministrativeprocessingisrequired.Forothercivilcasesmediationisconsideredgenerallyapplicable,althoughindividualcasesmayhavecircumstancesthatmakemediationinadvisableorinappropriate.
Since2014,inadditiontoitslong-standingcourt-annexedmediationprogram,informalsettlementconferenceshavebeenusedinfamilyprovisioncaseswheretheestateisvaluedatlessthan$500,000.TheseconferencesareconductedbyJusticeHallenandaretimedtooccuratanearlystageofcasemanagementwithaviewtoachievingsettlementassoonaspossiblesoastominimiselitigationcosts.Theinformalsettlementconferenceshavereducedthenumberofcasesgoingtothecourt-annexedmediationprogram,andneedtobetakenintoaccountwheninterpretingstatisticsconcerningthecourt’suseofmediation,bothcourt-annexedandoverall.
During2016theregistryrecordedatotalnumberof806referralstomediation(court-annexedorprivate),whichwasa25percentdecreasefromthe2015totalof1,070referrals.Thenumberofcourt-annexedmediationlistings(whichareconductedbytheCourt’sregistrars)increasedfrom518in2015to615in2016,sothedecreaseinthetotalreferralsmustarisefromamuchreducednumberofreferralstoprivatemediators.Itispossiblethattheuseofprivatemediationcouldhavedecreasedsignificantlyover2016;however,itisalsopossiblethatthetotalnumberofreferralsfor2016doesnotincludefullytheuseofprivatemediationbecauseitisnotessentialforlitigantstoobtainaformalreferraltoprivatemediation,oreven(inmanycircumstances)todisclosetotheCourtthatprivatemediationhasbeenused.
During2016,approximately4,654civilcaseswerefiledthatwereoftypesforwhichmediationwasconsideredgenerallyapplicable,notappreciablychangedfromthenumberofsuchcasesduring2015(approximately4,640).
The“mediationreferralindex”isthetotalnumberofcasesreferredformediationinagivenyear,expressedapercentageofthetotalnumberofcasescommenced(inthatyear)thatareoftypeswheremediationisconsideredtobegenerallyapplicable.For2016themediationreferralindexwas17.3percent,asignificantdecreasefromtheresultof23.1percentin2015.Theintroduction,in2014,ofinformalsettlementconferenceshasreducedtheproportionoffamilyprovisioncasesthatproceedtomediation,causinganappreciablereductioninthemediationreferralindex.Thereductionintheindexthisyearisalsorelatedtothelownumberofreferralsrecordedforprivatemediation,asdiscussedabove.
Therewere615caseslistedforcourt-annexedmediationin2016(19percentmorethanin2015),and601court-annexedmediationsessionswereheld.ThesemediationsareconductedbythoseSupremeCourtregistrarswhoareadditionallyqualifiedasmediators.Thecourt-annexedmediationprogramcontinuedtoachieveagoodsettlementrate–51percentduring2016.TheCourthasastringentconventionforrecordingcasesas“settledatmediation”:thepartiesmusthaveagreedtofinalisingordersbythecloseofthemediationprocedureorhavedraftedheadsofagreement.Anadditional26percentofcaseswererecordedas“stillnegotiating”atthecloseofthemediationsession,andmanyofthosecasesarelikelytohavesettledsubsequently.Ifpartiesagreetosettletheirdisputeatanytimeafterthecloseofthemediationsession,thosesettlementsarenotrecordedas“settledatmediation”eventhoughthemediationproceduremayhavebeenfundamentaltothepartieseventuallyreachingsettlement.Thestatisticsforthecourt-annexedmediationprogramarecollatedindependentlyoftheJusticeLinksystem,wherethedataisnotsufficientlyreliableforthispurpose.Therearenostatisticsonsettlementratesforcasesreferredtoprivatemediators.
33
Thelistingdelayfornon-urgentcourt-annexedmediationsessionsrangedbetween3-9weeksduring2016,butwas3-6weeksformostoftheyear.Thelistingdelayformediationshadsettledat5weeksforthestartofthe2017lawterm.Thelistingdelaycanchangeduringtheyear,andupdatedinformationispublisheddailyinthecourtlist.
UseofarbitrationforSupremeCourtcasesispossiblebutnowextremelyrare.Themostrecentreferraltoarbitrationoccurredin2006(onereferralonly).Theuseofarbitrationhasdeclinedfollowingre-distributionofworkamongtheState’scourts.ThetypesofcasesthattypicallyhadbeenreferredbytheSupremeCourttoarbitrationnolongercometotheSupremeCourt.
34
4 EdUCATION ANd PUbLIC INFORMATION
• Judicialofficereducation(informationsuppliedbytheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales)
• Publiceducationprogramme
• TheroleoftheMediaManager
35
JUDICIAl OFFICER EDUCATION
Manyjudicialofficersupdatedanddevelopedtheirskillsandknowledgeduringtheyearbyattendingconferences,seminarsandworkshops.SomeoftheprogramsaretailoredspecificallytotheCourt’sneeds,whileotherstargetthewiderlegalcommunity.Anoverviewofsomeoftheeducationalactivitiescompletedduring2016appearsbelow.Foramorecomprehensivelistofactivities,pleaserefertoAppendix(III):OtherJudicialActivity.
Domestic judicial education activities undertaken in 2016• During2016,judgesattended99daysof
face-to-facejudicialeducationorganisedbytheJudicialCommission,anaverageof2.8daysofjudicialeducationperjudge.Participantsareaskedtoratethepracticalvalueofeacheducationeventtotheirroleasajudge.Theoverallratingsin2016(fromanaverageresponserateof42%)revealthatjudgesfindtheSupremeCourt’seducationprogramrelevantandausefulsourceofknowledgeandideas.While87%ofparticipantssaidthattheeducationprogramwasapplicabletotheirdaytodaywork.
• InFebruary,twoSupremeCourtjudgesattendedtheNationalJudicialOrientationPrograminGlenelg,Adelaide.Thisfive-dayorientationprogramassistsnewlyappointedjudicialofficerswiththeirtransitiontojudicialofficebyfacilitatingthedevelopmentandrefinementoftheskillsandknowledgenecessaryforeffectivejudging.ItisconductedbytheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliawiththeassistanceoftheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales,theAustralianInstituteofJudicialAdministrationandtheJudicialCollegeofVictoria.
• InMarch,elevenSupremeCourtjudgesattendedatwilightSeminaron‘TheRoleoftheNSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal’presentedbyTheHonourableJusticeRobertsonWright.TheseminarprovidedacomprehensiveoutlineoftheNCAT,includingitshistoryandformation;thefeaturesandcharacteristicsofthetribunal;thepracticeandproceduresofdifferenttribunaldivisions;thelegislativeframeworkforpractice,procedureandcasemanagement;andotherfeaturesofindividualdivisions.
• InApril,twelveSupremeCourtjudgesattendedatwilightseminaron‘InmateClassification,PlacementandCaseManagement’presentedbyMrMacLa’ulu,A/Director,InmateClassificationandPlacement,CorrectiveServices.ThissessionprovidedinformationontheclassificationsystemusedbyCorrectiveServices,includingthevarioussecurityratings,whattheymeanfortheoffender,andwhenandhowtheyareappliedinindividualcases.OthertopicscoveredincludedtheclassificationprocessandinformationconsideredbyCorrectiveServiceswhendeterminingclassification.
• TheCourt’sAnnualConference,heldinAugust,includedsessionsonreformofthecivilcourtstructureintheUK,internationaldisputesettlement,developmentsincriminallaw,theinpersonamexceptiontoindefeasibility,tendencyevidence,proportionality,dealingwithapprehendedbiasclaims,andDNA.FortythreeSupremeCourtjudgesandthePrincipalRegistrarattended.
• InNovember,ninejudgesfromtheSupremeCourtattendedacross-jurisdictionalseminaron‘ParoleandtheStateParoleAuthority’presentedbyTheHonourableJamesWoodAOQC,NSWStateParoleAuthority.ThissessioncoveredtheStateParoleAuthorityoperationalpracticesconcerningparolegrantsandbreachesofparole,ICOsandhomedetentionorders.ThissessionalsoprovidedinformationontheCorrectionNSWpracticesinrelationtothepreparationofinmatesforparoleandtheirsupervisionpostrelease.
• TheNgaraYuraCommitteepresentedvariousseminarsandcommunityvisitsthroughouttheyear:– InMay,twojudgesattendedasitevisitto
KamayBotanyBayNationalPark.MrDeanKelly,AboriginalEnvironmentalist,CulturalAmbassador,andmemberoftheLaPerouseAboriginalcommunity,ledagroupofjudicialofficersonatourofKamayBotanyBayNationalPark.
36
PUBlIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME
EachweektheCourt’sRegistrarsaddresssecondaryschoolstudentsandcommunitygroupsregardingtheCourt’sjurisdictionanddailyoperations.Afterthelecture,thegroupistakentoanappropriatecourtroomtoobserveaSupremeCourttrial.TheCourtoffersthisserviceatnocosttotheattendees.
Approximately1,100studentsandmembersofthepublicattendedtheselecturesin2016.Themajorityofthesevisitswerefromhighschools,particularlyseniorLegalStudiesstudents.ThesestudentsareencouragedtoobserveacivilandcriminalcourtinoperationwhilecompletingtheirpreliminaryHigherSchoolCertificatestudiestoimprovetheirunderstandingofthelegalsystemandtheproceduraldifferencesbetweenthetwojurisdictions.However,theRegistrarsalsoaddressedTAFE,universitystudentsandcommunitygroupsthroughouttheyear,inadditiontointernationalvisitorsfromChina,DubaiandMyanmar.
– InAugust,fourjudgesattendedaseminarconductedjointlywiththeBarAssociationandLawSociety.ThissessiondiscussedintergenerationaltraumaandhowitsimpactscanbeaddressedfocusingonAboriginalcommunitiesanddiscussinghowanimprovementintheunderstandingofintergenerationaltraumacancontributetoimprovedjusticeoutcomesforAboriginalpeople.
– InOctober,fivejudgesattendedanotherjointlyconductedsessionwiththeBarAssociationandLawSocietyintheissuesarisingfromAboriginalearlychildhoodtraumaandfoetalalcoholspectrumdisorder(FASD).ThisseminarexplainedcurrentalcoholandotherdrugmanagementandhealthinitiativestoreducethecontactbetweenvulnerableAboriginalyoungpeopleandthejuvenilejusticesystemaswellastheimpactofFASDonthecommunity.
– AlsoinOctober,sixjudgesattendedaseminarontheCleanSlateWithoutPrejudiceprograminRedfernwhereLocalAreaCommanderLukeFreudensteinandShanePhillipstalkedabouttheprogramandothercrimepreventioninitiativesintheRedfernarea.
– InNovember,twojudgesattendedacommunityvisittoMuruMittigarinPenrith.ThiseventprovidedinsightsintothewaysinwhichtheorganisationachievesitsvisionandprovidedanopportunitytoengagewithprogramswithinthewesternSydneyregion.
37
THE ROlE OF THE MEDIA MANAGER
TheCourt’sMediaManager(MM)istheprincipalmediaspokespersonforthesuperiorNSWcourtsandprovidesaprofessionalcourt-medialiaisonservice.ThemajorroleofthepositionistoprovidethemediawithinformationaboutcourtproceedingsintheSupremeCourt,theLand&EnvironmentCourt(LEC)andtheIndustrialRelationsCommission(IRC).TheMMworkswiththemediatoensurethatjudicialdecisionsarecorrectlyreportedtothecommunityandpromotesinitiativestakenbythecourtstoenhanceaccesstojustice.TheMMisalsoresponsibleforensuringthatmediaoutletsarealerttoanynon-publicationandsuppressionordersissuedinproceedings,andthattheyarefamiliarwiththetermsandimpactsoftheseorders.Thisisimportantbecausethemedia’sfailuretoacknowledgeoradheretosuchordersintheircoveragecouldcompromiseproceedings.
During2016,theMMcompleted6,149requestsforinformation.Ofthese:
• 91.5percentrelatedtoSupremeCourtmatters• 8.5percentrelatedtotheLEC,IRCandother
courtsandtribunals.
SydneymetropolitanjournalistsfrommajornewspapersandradioandTVstationsremainedthemajorusersofMMservices,accountingfor75percentofrequestsin2016.Nearly12percentofuserswerefromNSWregionalnewspapers,radioandTVstations,andlessthanonepercentwasfromsuburbanSydneynewspapers.Theremaininginquirieswerefrominterstateoroverseasjournalists,writersforspecialist/tradepublications,authors,lawyers,studentsormembersofthepublic.
Duringthereportingyear,theMMreceived24mediaapplicationstofilmcriminalsentences,underthebroadcastingjudgmentslegislationwhichincludesapresumptioninfavourofpermittingrecordingandbroadcastofjudgmentremarksthatdetermineproceedings.Allbutonewasgranted.
Inadditiontoreactivework,theMMundertookproactivetasksincludingprovidingmediaadvicetojudges,assistingwiththeCourt’ssocialmedia(TwitterandFacebook)activityandhostingavisitingJapanesejudgeandCourtofficial.
2015alsosawthefirstfullyear’soperationofthebroadcastingjudgmentslegislationwhichincludesapresumptioninfavourofpermittingrecordingandbroadcastofjudgmentremarksthatdetermineproceedings.TheMMreceived22mediaapplicationstofilmcriminalsentencesofwhich16weregrantedandsixrefused.
Inadditiontoreactivework,theMMundertookproactivemediatasksincludingdraftingmediareleasesandstatements,providingmediaadvicetojudges,organisingmediainterviewsfortheChiefJustice,assistingwiththeCourt’ssocialmedia(TwitterandFacebook)activity,assistingtheJudicialCommissionofNSWwithmediainquiriesrelatingtoapublicinquiry,draftingmediareportingguidelines,organisingmediatestingforthenewBancoCourtaudiovisualequipment,administeringtheMediaConsultationGroupandparticipatinginthenationalCourtMediaOfficersConference.
38
5 OTHER ASPECTS OF THE COURT’S WORK
• UniformCivilProcedureRules
• LawCourtsLibrary
• AdmissiontothelegalprofessionandappointmentofPublicNotaries
• AdmissionunderthemutualrecognitionActs
• AdministrationoftheCostsAssessmentScheme
• ProBonoScheme
• JudicialAssistanceProgram
39
lAW COURTS lIBRARYUNIFORM CIVIl PROCEDURE RUlES
TheCivilProcedureAct2005andUniformCivilProcedureRules2005commencedoperationin2005.TheUniformRulesCommitteewasestablishedundersections8andSchedule2oftheAct.TheChiefJustice(whoactsaschair)andthePresidentoftheCourtofAppealareex-officiomembersoftheCommittee.TheotherSupremeCourtrepresentativesontheCommitteeduringJusticeAdamsonandJusticeLindsay.AswellasconsideringamendmentstotheRulestheUniformRulesCommitteeapprovesformsforuseincivilproceedingsundersection17oftheAct.
TheLawCourtsLibraryisoneofthepremierlawlibrariesinAustralia;itscollectionpredatestheformationoftheSupremeCourtin1824.TheLibraryisalegalresourceandinformationcentreforalljudicialofficers,courtstaffandregistrarsintheLawCourtsBuilding.
Legalauthoritiesandaccurateinformationareprovidedtosupportthetimelyandeffectivedecisionmakingofthecourts.In2015,librariansansweredmorethan2,000requestsfromtheSupremeCourt,andaround4,600legalresourceswereborrowed.LawCourtsLibraryreaderserviceslibrarianscontinuedtoprovidesupportforcourtuseofonlineresourcesande-publicationsoniPadsandothermobiledevices.
In2016thejudicialfunctionsoftheNSWIndustrialRelationsCommission(IRC)weretransferredtotheSupremeCourt.LibrarystaffevaluatedtheIRC’sextensivelibrary,andincorporatedjudgmentsandspecialisttextsintotheLawCourtsLibrarycollection.
Inaddition,2,451SupremeCourt(includingCourtofAppealandCourtofCriminalAppeal)decisionswerepublishedontheNSWCaselawwebsiteduring2016,whichismanagedandsupportedbytheLibrary.
TheNSWDepartmentofJusticeandtheFederalCourtofAustraliajointlyfundtheLawCourtsLibrary.TheoperationsoftheLibraryareoverseenbytheLibraryAdvisoryCommittee,consistingofthreeJudgesfromtheFederalCourtofAustraliaandthreeJudgesfromtheSupremeCourtofNSW.
TheCommitteeprovidesadviceonmattersofcollectiondevelopmentandserviceprovision.
During2016,theSupremeCourtrepresentativesontheAdvisoryCommitteewere:
TheHonourableJusticeBasten,TheHonourableJusticeMacfarlan.andTheHonourableJusticeEmmett
40
ADMISSION TO THE lEGAl PROFESSION AND APPOINTMENT OF PUBlIC NOTARIESTheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoardisresponsiblefor:
• determiningtheeligibilityandsuitabilityofpeopleseekingtobeadmittedasalawyerinNSW
• accreditingacademiclawcoursesandpracticallegaltrainingcoursesinNSW
• registering,enrollingandexaminingstudentsintheBoard’sownDiplomainLawcourse
• appointingpublicnotariesinNSW,and• maintainingtheRollofLawyersandtheRollof
PublicNotariesinNSW.
ConstitutedbytheLegal Profession Uniform Law Application Act2014,theBoardisaself-fundingstatutorycorporation.MembershipoftheBoardcomprises:
• theChiefJusticeofNSW• threeJudgesoftheSupremeCourtnominated
bytheChiefJustice• anomineeoftheAttorneyGeneral• nomineesoftheCommitteeofNSWLawDeans,
theBarCouncil,andtheLawSocietyCouncil.
During2016,themembersoftheBoardwere:
• TheHonourableChiefJustice• TheHonourableJusticeEmmett
(PresidingMember)• TheHonourableJusticeDavies
(DeputyPresidingMember)• TheHonourableJusticeLindsay• TheHonourableJusticePayne
(from17December2016)• ProfessorMichaelAdams• MsMargaretAllarsSC• MrCharlesCawley• MrJohnDobson• ProfessorLesleyHitchens• MrGarryMcGrathSC• MrMarcelSavary(until7August2016)• DrJacobCampbell(from30August2016).
AdetailedaccountoftheBoard’sactivitiesandachievementscanbefoundinitsAnnualReport,whichisavailablefordownloadfromwww.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au
TheRegistryliaiseswiththeLegalProfessionAdmissionBoardinperformingthetaskofmanagingapplicationsfromlegalpractitionersforadmissionunderthemutualrecognitionActs:fromNewZealandlegalpractitionersundertheTrans Tasman Mutual Recognition Act1997,andfromAustralianlegalpractitionersfromotherStatesandTerritoriesundertheMutual Recognition Act1992.
In2016,69NewZealandpractitionerswereenrolledundertheTrans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act.Incomparison,therewere54trans-Tasmanadmissionsin2015and45in2014.
ThenumberofAustralianlegalpractitionersenrolledundertheMutual Recognition Act1992remainsnegligibleaftereachStateandTerritory,exceptSouthAustralia,enactedlegislationthatallowsinterstatepractitionerstopractiseseamlesslythroughoutAustralia.TherehavebeenonlyfiveenrolmentsrecordedundertheMutual Recognition ActinNewSouthWalessinceJanuary2007,andnonesince2012.
ADMISSION UNDER THE MUTUAl RECOGNITION ACTS
41
questionsoflawandotherwisebyleave.Althoughnowrepealed,theLPAstillappliestoassessmentswherethematterinwhichthecostsorderwasobtainedwascommencedbefore1July2015orwherefirstinstructionsfromaclientweregivenbefore1July2015.
TheLegal Profession Uniform Law Application Act2014(asamended)incorporatestherecommendationsoftheChiefJustices’Reviewconcerningreviews.Formattersfallingunderthenewlegislation,anappealisnowtotheDistrictCourt,butonlywithleaveiftheamountindisputeislessthan$25,000ortotheSupremeCourtbutonlywithleaveiftheamountindisputeislessthan$100,000.
TheChiefJusticeappointstheCostsAssessmentRulesCommittee(CARC).Since1July2015,withthecommencementoftheApplicationAct,CARCwasreconstitutedinthelegislationtoincludeaSupremeCourtJudge,aDistrictCourtJudge,anomineeofOfficeofLegalServicesCommissionerandofbothNSWLawSocietyandNSWBarAssociationaswellasrepresentativeCostsAssessors.TheCARCischairedbyTheHonourableJusticePaulBreretonAMRFD.
TheCostsAssessmentUserGroupmeetsasnecessarytodiscussissuesoncostsassessmentfromauser’sperspective.TheUserGroupmetregularlyduring2016toprogressupdatestoapplicationformsrequiredtoaccommodatetheuniformlegislationanddraftupdatedpracticeguidelinesfordecisionmakersandprospectivecostsapplicantsandrespondents.
TheCostsAssessmentSchemeisthemechanismthroughwhichclientsandpractitionerscanresolvedisputesaboutcosts,andalsoquantifycostsordersmadebyaNSWcourtortribunal.TheScheme’sprocessesaregovernedbytheNSWlegalprofessionlegislationinforcewhenthelitigationinwhichthecostsdisputearosecommenced,orthecostsorderwasmade,commenced.
TheChiefJusticeappointsindependentCostsAssessorstodetermineapplicationsforcostsassessmentandreview.AllCostsAssessorsarelegallyqualifiedandmusthavebeenapractisingAustralianlawyerforatleast5yearstobeconsideredeligibleforappointment.
TheCostsAssessmentsectionoftheRegistryundertakestheday-to-dayadministrationoftheSchemeundertheguidanceoftheManager,CostsAssessment.
During2016,1,340costsassessmentapplicationswerelodged.Ofthese,553(41percent)relatedtocostsbetweenpartiestocostsorders;171(13percent)werebroughtbyclientsagainstpractitioners;and434(32percent)werebroughtbypractitionerstorecoveragainstclient.Therewere182reviews(14percentofapplications).
Thereviewprocessisundertakenbyareviewpanelcomprisingtwoseniorassessors.Thereviewpanelgenerallyconsidersthematerialbeforetheassessorandcanaffirmorvarytheoriginalassessment.IftheapplicationismadeundertheLegal Profession Act2004(LPA)acostsassessmentdeterminationcanbeappealedtotheDistrictCourtasofrighton
ADMINISTRATION OF THE COSTS ASSESSMENT SCHEME
42
JUDICIAl ASSISTANCE PROGRAMPRO BONO SCHEME
TheCourtestablishedtheProBonoSchemewithsupportfromtheNewSouthWalesBarAssociationandLawSocietyofNewSouthWalesin2001.
TheSchemeoperatesinaccordancewithPart7Division9oftheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005andenablesunrepresentedlitigantstobereferredtoabarristerand/orsolicitoroncetheCourtdeterminestheyaredeservingofassistance.
During2016,theCourtmade36referralsundertheScheme:12referralsweremadeinCourtofAppealcases,and24referralsweremadebyJudgesacrosstheCommonLawandEquityDivisions.TheScheme’ssuccessdependsuponthecontinuedgoodwillofbarristersandsolicitorswhohaveindicatedawillingnesstoparticipateintheScheme.TheCourtgratefullyacknowledgesandextendsitssincerethankstothosewhosupporttheschemebyvolunteeringtheirservices.
AJudicialAssistanceProgramwaslaunchedtohelpNewSouthWalesjudicialofficersmeetthedemandsoftheirworkwhilstmaintaininggoodhealthandwell-being.Theschemeprovidesfor24-houraccesstoaprofessional,confidentialcounsellingserviceandfreeannualhealthassessments.TheCourtadministersthisProgramonbehalfofallthejurisdictions.
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6 APPENDICES
I Courtstatistics–comprehensivetableofstatistics
II TheCourt’scommitteesandusergroups
III Otherjudicialactivity:conferences,speaking,engagements,publications,appointmentstolegalandculturalorganisations,delegationsandinternationalassistanceandcommissionsinoverseascourts
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• Filings, disposals and pending cases• Timeliness
– Age of pending cases at 31 December– listing delays after the end of the year
• Alternative dispute resolution
Filings, disposals and pending cases
NOTES:
Thefiguresforpendingcasesexcludecasesthathavebeenre-openedafterjudgment.
PendingcaseloadfigureswithintheCommonLawandEquityDivisions(orwithincasemanagementlistswithinthoseDivisions)willnotalwaysreconcilewithassociatedfilinganddisposalfigures.ThisisbecausecasesthatarecommencedinonecasemanagementlistorDivisionmaysubsequentlybetransferredtoanotherlistorDivisionforfurthercasemanagementanddisposal.
Thestatisticsfor2012throughto2016forcivilcasesintheCommonLawDivision,fortheEquityDivision(otherthantheAdoptionsList,ProtectiveListandcontestedProbateListcases),andfortheBailsList(for2015and2016)havebeenextractedfromtheJusticeLinksystem.Allotherstatisticsaremanuallycollated.
Thestatisticsaresubjecttoauditandrevision.
“n/a”–figuresnotavailableornotseparatelyreported
“-” –itemnotapplicable
“0” –zerocount
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
COURT OF APPEAl 1,2
Filings (net new cases) 3 493 502 461 379 397
Filings of appeals / applications for relief 333 334 310 255 261
Filings of applications for leave to appeal 4 169 183 166 134 144
Disposals (final disposals) 5 493 510 501 433 423
Disposals of appeals / applications for relief 319 337 330 312 278
Disposals of applications for leave to appeal 184 188 186 131 153
Pending cases at 31 December 338 330 290 236 210
Appeals / applications for relief 252 249 230 173 156
Applications for leave to appeal 86 81 60 63 54
1 Thesestatisticsexcludenoticesofintentiontoappealbecausethosedocumentsdonotcommencesubstantiveappealsorapplications.
2 ThesestatisticscoverCourtofAppealcasesonly.Theyarenotcomparableto“civilappeal”casestatisticsreportedwithintheProductivityCommission’sReportonGovernmentServices,whichcompriseallcivilcasesofanappellatenature,includingappealsandreviewsdealtwithintheCommonLawDivisionorEquityDivision.
3 Whenanoticeofappealisfiledafterasuccessfulapplicationforleavetoappeal,theappealandtheleaveapplicationarecountedasonecase(nottwo).Forthisreason,thefiguresforfilingsofnoticesofappeal(andapplicationsforrelief)andfilingsofapplicationsforleave,combined,exceedthenumberofnetnewcases.
4 Thisitemincludesnotonlyleaveapplications,butalsoapplicationswherepartieshaveelectedtohaveaconcurrenthearingofboththeapplicationforleavetoappealandtheappeal(ifleaveisgranted).
5 Whereanapplicationforleavetoappealisgrantedandanoticeofappealisconsequentlyfiled,thisiscountedasonecontinuouscase,withafinaldisposalbeingcountedonlywhenthesubstantiveappealisfinalised.Forthisreason,thefiguresfordisposalsofnoticesofappeal(andapplicationsforrelief)anddisposalsofapplicationsforleave,combined,exceedthenumberoffinaldisposals.
APPENDIX (I): COURT STATISTICS – COMPREHENSIVE TABlE OF STATISTICS (to be read in conjunction with Chapter 3)
45
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
COURT OF CRIMINAl APPEAl 1
Filings 339 385 373 342 362
Disposals 336 381 376 400 385
Pendingcasesat31December 225 229 226 168 145
1 ThesestatisticsexcludeapplicationsconcerningdecisionsoftheNSWStateParoleAuthority.TheCourtofCriminalAppealreceived8suchapplicationsduring2016(26werereceivedoverthefive-yearperiod2012-2016).TheAdministrativeLawListoftheCommonLawDivisionalsoreceivesapplicationsconcerningdecisionsoftheParoleAuthority.
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
COMMON lAW DIVISION – Criminal 1, 2
Criminal List
Filings(registrations)3 130 110 72 118 102
Disposals4 157 121 92 88 105
Pendingcasesat31December 116 105 85 115 112
Bails List 5
Filings(applicants) n/a 3,698(est.) 3,780 4,401 3,996
Disposals(applicants) n/a 3,742(est.) 3,637 4,201 3,991
Pendingapplicantsat31December 339 439 561 761 742
1 Inallyears,thefiguresexcludemattersunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act(formerlys474DoftheCrimes Act),applicationsforre-determinationofalifesentence,andsummaryjurisdictioncases(whichareincludedamong“othersummonscases”withintheCommonLawGeneralList,wheretheyaremanaged).
2 Since2005,theCourthasusedcountingrulesthatalignwithnationalcountingrules.Thereforethefiguresreportednowarenotdirectlycomparablewiththosereportedbefore2005.
3 Registrationsincludecommittalsfortrial/sentence,exofficioindictments,re-trialsorderedbytheCourtofCriminalAppealorHighCourt,mattersreferredfromtheMentalHealthReviewTribunal,transfersfromtheDistrictCourt,andre-activatedmatters(egwhereabenchwarrantisexecuted).
4 Disposalsarecountedatsentence,acquittalorotherfinaldisposal.(“Otherfinaldisposal”includesreferraltotheMentalHealthTribunal,nobill,deathoftheaccused,orderforabenchwarranttoissue,transfertoanothercourt,andotherfinalorders.)
5 From2013onwards,thefiguresforBailsListcasescountthenumberofapplicants,notthenumberofapplications.AtaBailsListhearing,theCourtmaydealconcurrentlywithmultipleapplicationsforanyoneapplicant.Becausethechangeincountingwasimplementedinmid-2013andwasnotretrospective,anestimatehasbeenmadeforthefilingsanddisposalsfor2013.During2016,newreportshavebeenusedtoextractdatafromtheJusticeLinksystem–itispossiblethatthesereportsdonottakeintoaccountasmallnumberofcasesthatareeithercreatedorclosedretrospectively.
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2012 1 2013 2014 2015 2016
COMMON lAW DIVISION – Civil
Administrative Law List
Filings 206 122 144 134 127
Disposals 119 148 136 158 149
Pendingcasesat31December 110 86 109 91 70
Defamation List
Filings 46 67 58 47 69
Disposals 55 76 65 65 52
Pendingcasesat31December 90 84 81 65 84
Common Law General List (formerly the General Case Management List)
Filings 982 1,177 1,056 1,176 1,105
Contestedclaims 496 503 454 484 484
–personal injury 251 213 266 315 291
– other claims 245 290 188 169 193
Uncontestedclaims 52 161 133 169 185
ProceedsofCrimecases 93 104 94 120 93
Othersummonscases 341 409 375 403 378
Disposals 1,041 1,556 1,408 1,149 1,134
Contestedclaims 533 616 572 525 495
–personal injury 248 365 283 299 291
– other claims 285 251 289 226 204
Uncontestedclaims 32 317 185 109 154
ProceedsofCrimecases 97 100 116 77 97
Othersummonscases 379 523 535 438 388
Pending cases at 31 December 1,891 1,656 1,286 1,275 1,247
Contestedclaims 1,104 999 886 850 865
–personal injury 554 418 531 562 575
– other claims 550 581 355 288 290
Uncontestedclaims 162 139 70 94 69
ProceedsofCrimecases 145 148 134 176 173
Othersummonscases 480 370 196 155 140
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2012 1 2013 2014 2015 2016
Possession List
Filings2 3,259 2,447 1,844 1,600 1,312
Disposals 4,439 3,647 2,641 1,592 1,376
Contested 207 155 136 100 60
Uncontested 4,232 3,492 2,505 1,492 1,316
Pending cases at 31 December 2,922 1,711 914 903 838
Contested 178 136 92 56 60
Uncontested 2,744 1,575 822 847 778
Professional Negligence List
Filings 161 194 162 127 150
Disposals 138 204 193 191 153
Pendingcasesat31December 409 402 370 301 301
Miscellaneous applications 3
Filings 458 566 415 454 453
Disposals 465 608 436 435 437
Pendingcasesat31December 77 26 11 32 52
COMMON lAW DIVISION TOTAlS – Civil
Filings 5,112 4,573 3,679 3,538 3,216
Disposals 6,257 6,239 4,879 3,590 3,301
Pending cases at 31 December 5,499 3,965 2,771 2,667 2,592
1 Thefiguresreportedfor2012areaffectedbyerrorsinclassificationofsomecasetypes–particularly,thedistributionofcasesbetweentheAdministrativeLawListandtheCommonLawGeneralListisconsideredtobeinaccurate.Thoseerrorswereaddressedattheendof2012whentheCourtimplementedanewsetofcase-typedescriptors.
2 AllPossessionListcasesareassumedtobeuncontestedatthetimeoffiling.Ifasubsequentdefenceorcross-claimisfiledthecaseislistedforcase-managementandcountedasacontestedcase.
3 TheseincludeapplicationsundertheMutual Recognition Act,Trans-TasmanMutual Recognition Act,applicationsforproductionorders,requestsforservicewithinNSWofdocumentsrelatedtocivilproceedingsbeingconductedoutsideNSW,andapplicationstoenforcejudgmentsgivenoutsideAustralia.
48
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
EQUITY DIVISION 1
Admiralty List
Filings 2 0 1 4 0
Disposals 10 2 1 1 4
Pendingcasesat31December 3 1 1 4 0
Adoptions List 2
Applications 234 206 208 160 198
Ordersmade 203 218 214 168 179
Pendingcasesat31December 74 62 56 48 67
Commercial List
Filings 148 175 195 155 147
Disposals 178 190 232 166 224
Pendingcasesat31December 283 278 277 282 223
Commercial Arbitration List
Filings 6 3 3 2 1
Disposals 9 8 4 1 2
Pendingcasesat31December 7 2 1 1 0
Corporations List
Filings 1,648 1,353 1,601 2,126 1,097
Disposals3 1,602 1,617 1,714 2,133 1,071
Pendingcasesat31December 759 465 336 331 357
Equity General List
Filings 2,037 1,994 1,998 2,146 1,901
Family provision cases 792 790 774 972 1,018
Other cases 1,245 1,204 1,224 1,174 883
Disposals 2,089 2,098 2,595 2,207 2,058
Family provision cases 811 919 855 835 1,068
Other cases 1,278 1,179 1,740 1,372 990
Pendingcasesat31December 2,317 2,235 1,629 1,570 1,409
Family provision cases 649 513 419 554 492
Other cases 4 1,668 1,722 1,210 1,016 917
49
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Probate (Contentious Matters) list
Filings 137 191 212 207 265
Disposals 116 172 200 187 245
Pendingcasesat31December 122 141 153 173 193
Protective list 5
Applications 106 95 110 107 83
Disposals 85 99 109 105 93
Pendingapplicationsat31December 36 32 33 35 25
Real Property list 6
Filings – – – 150 394
Disposals – – – 37 248
Pendingcasesat31December – – – 141 292
Revenue list
Filings 45 56 13 22 26
Disposals 15 35 39 8 18
Pendingapplicationsat31December 54 40 15 29 36
Technology and Construction list
Filings 137 129 98 89 108
Disposals 115 95 180 114 139
Pendingcasesat31December 244 283 212 200 174
EQUITY DIVISION TOTAlS
Filings 4,500 4,202 4,439 5,168 4,220
Disposals 4,422 4,534 5,288 5,127 4,281
Pending cases at 31 December 3,899 3,539 2,713 2,814 2,776
PROBATE – Applications lodged for grant of probate etc 7
23,790 23,607 24,526 26,408 26,243
50
1 Thefiguresreportedfor2012throughto2015havebeenextractedfromtheJusticeLinksystem,exceptforthefiguresfortheAdoptionsList,Probate(ContentiousMatters)ListandProtectiveList(thedataforthoselistsareobtainedfrommanuallycollateddata).
2 InthisList,allapplicationstypesarecounted,includinginformationapplications.3 Typically,about90percentofCorporationsListarefinalisedbytheregistrarandwithoutneedforlistingbeforeajudge.4 During2014and2015alargenumberofinactivecasesinthisListwereauditedand,whereappropriate,closed.Accordingly,
thedisposalsfiguresareaberrantlyhighinthoseyears.5 Applicationsarecountedinsteadof“cases”becausecasesinthisListcanbeofaperpetualnature.Duringtheperiodwhena
person’saffairsorpropertyaremanagedundertheNSW Trustee and Guardian Act,itispossiblethatmorethanoneapplicationwillbemadeinrelationtothatperson.“Disposals”referstothenumberofdisposedapplications.
6 TheRealPropertyListcommencedon1June2015.Somecases,commencedearlierintheEquityGeneralList,weresubsequentlytransferredtothisListforcasemanagement.
7 Thisincludesallprobateapplicationsthatarelodgedasuncontestedapplicationsforagrantofprobateorlettersofadministration,orforresealofaprobategrant.Registrarsdealwithuncontestedapplications.Onlyasmallproportionapplicationscommencedasuncontestedgrantapplicationsbecomecontested.ContestedapplicationsaretransferredtotheProbate(ContentiousMatters)Listandarecountedadditionallyasfilingsthere.Thefiguresheredonotincludeprobate-relatedmattershandledbytheregistry,suchasprobateaccountsmatters,caveats,depositedwills,andelectionstoadministerestates.
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Timeliness – age of pending cases at 31 December 1, 2, 3, 4
Number pending (and % of total) National benchmark 5
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
COURT OF APPEAl
Totalnumberofcasespending 338 330 290 236 210
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
307(91%)
297(90%)
270(93%)
214(91%)
191(91%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
332(98%)
328(99%)
288(99%)
234(99%)
210(100%)
COURT OF CRIMINAl APPEAl
Totalnumberofcasespending 225 229 226 168 145
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
187(83%)
206(90%)
194(86%)
158(94%)
143(99%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
211(94%)
220(96%)
222(98%)
166(99%)
145(100%)
COMMON lAW DIVISION – Criminal 6, 7
Totalnumberofdefendantspending 116 105 85 115 112
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
95(82%)
85(81%)
56(66%)
93(81%)
80(71%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
114(98%)
101(96%)
77(91%)
109(95%)
107(96%)
COMMON lAW DIVISION – Civil
Totalnumberofcasespending 5,499 3,965 2,771 2,667 2,592
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
3,178(58%)
2,674(67%)
1,799(65%)
1,834(69%)
1,766(68%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
4,474(81%)
3,365(85%)
2,299(83%)
2,242(84%)
2,204(85%)
EQUITY DIVISION (excluding uncontested probate matters)
Totalnumberofcasespending 3,899 3,539 2,713 2,814 2,776
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
2,208(57%)
2,059(58%)
1,865(69%)
2,001(71%)
1,975(71%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
3,027(78%)
2,751(78%)
2,369(87%)
2,508(89%)
2,471(89%)
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1 Thecalculationofageusesthesamedefinitionsofcommencementandfinalisationasareusedforthe“backlog”performanceindicatorintheProductivityCommission’sReportonGovernmentServices.
2 ForEquityDivisioncasesandthecivilcasesoftheCommonLawDivision,theinformationisbasedondatafromtheJusticeLinksystem,whichwasnotfullyreliableuntiltheendof2012becausemanyfinalisedcasesremainedopenintheJusticeLinksystemandwereimproperlycontributingtothedatafortheageofpendingcases.During2013,2014and2015,withimprovedJusticeLinkreports,theRegistrywasabletoidentifyinactivecasesintheseDivisions–thosecaseswereauditedand,whereappropriate,closed.ThechangesinpercentagesforthecivilcasesintheseDivisionsduring2013,2014and2015are,tosomeextent,affectedbythoseaudits.
3 ForcasesintheCourtofAppealandtheCourtofCriminalAppeal,theageofanycaseincludestimetakentodealwithanassociatedapplicationforleavetoappeal.
4 ThesefiguresincludetheeffectoffactorsoutsidethecontroloftheCourt,suchasthetimetakentocompleterelevantcasesinothercourtsorinterlocutoryappeals,timetakentoprepareessentialreports,andtimeoccupiedbytrialsthatresultinahungjury.
5 Thenationalbenchmarksaretakenfromthe“backlog”performanceindicatorwithintheCourtschapteroftheReportonGovernmentServices(publishedbytheProductivityCommission).Notethatthenationalbenchmarksapplytodistrict/countycourtsaswellassupremecourts;consequentlythenationalbenchmarksapplytoalargerangeofindictments,criminalityandcivilcasetypes.Thecase-mixofanycourtcaninfluencethatcourt’scapacitytoachievethenationalbenchmarks.ThisCourt’sCriminalListdealswithanarrowrangeofoffences,withmostindictmentspresentedbeingforhomicideoffences;othermatters,generallyinvolvingthemostseriouscriminality,maybebroughtbutonlywiththeapprovaloftheChiefJustice.Incontrast,mostothersupremecourtsinAustraliaregularlydealwithabroaderrangeofoffences.Forcivilnon-appealcases,allsupremecourtsinAustraliacontinuetohavedifficultyachievingthenationalbenchmarks(seetable7A.21ofthelatestReportonGovernmentServices).
6 ThefiguresexcludemattersunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act(formerlys474DoftheCrimes Act)andapplicationsforre-determinationofalifesentence.
7 Thefiguresarecomparablefromyeartoyear.Thecountingunitisdefendants.Casesareconsideredtobependinguntilthetimeofsentence/acquittalorotherfinaldisposal.Whereatrialcollapsesandanewtrialisordered,thecountingoftheageofthecaseiscalculatedfromthedateofcommittal(notfromthedateoftheorderforanewtrial).
Timeliness – listing delays after the end of the year 1, 2
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
COURT OF APPEAL 3 4months 4months 3.8months 2.3months 1month
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL 4 2.5months 3months 3months 2.5months 1.5months
COMMON LAW DIVISION
CriminalList5 5months 6.5months 2.8months 5.5months 7.3months
Civillists6 9.5months 5months 6.8months 6.0months 7.3months
BailsList7 4weeks 4weeks 3weeks 10.5weeks 9weeks
EQUITY DIVISION 8 2.5months 3.8months 2.8months 3.0months 5.3months
1 ThisisthetimebetweentheestablishmentofreadinessforhearingandthefirstgroupofavailablehearingdatesthattheCourtoffersforcriminalandciviltrialcases,criminalandcivilappealsandBailsListcases.ThesedelaysdonotapplyiftheCourtordersanexpeditedhearing.
2 Thelistingdelaysshowthepositionatthestartofthenewlawterm(forexample,for2016itisthepositionatthestartofthe2017lawterm).Thisremovestheend-of-yearimpactofthelawvacation.
3 Thisreferstosubstantiveappeals(includingthoseheardconcurrentlywithaleaveapplication)requiring1dayofhearingtime.Thelistingdelayissignificantlyshorterforahearingofaleaveapplicationalone.
4 Thisreferstoseverity-onlyappealsrequiring1hourofhearingtimeandconvictionappealsrequiring3hoursofhearingtime.5 Foryearsupto2015,thisreferstocasesrequiringatleast3weeksoftrialtime.For2016,itreferstocasesrequiringatleast
4weeksoftrialtime.6 Thisreferstocasesrequiringupto5daysofhearingtime.7 Thisreferstoadultapplicantsreceivingpublicfunding.Applicationsbyjuvenilesareusuallyheardwithin2weeks.8 ThisrefersonlytoGeneralListandProbate(ContentiousMatters)Listcasesrequiring2daysofhearingtimebeforeajudge.
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Alternative dispute resolution
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Court-annexed mediations listed 1, 2
Total 711 671 4863 5183 6153
Common Law Division 34 44 28 32 38
Equity Division – not probate cases 660 605 432 447 528
Equity Division – probate cases 16 21 25 39 48
Court of Appeal 1 1 1 0 1
Percentagesettlingatmediation4 54% 55% 54% 51% 51%
Waitingtimeaftertheendoftheyear5 6weeks 3weeks 6weeks 4weeks 5weeks
Referrals to mediation generally
Totalreferralsrecorded6 1,092 1,088 8398 1,0718 8068
Mediationreferralindex7 23.9% 23.7% 19.0%8 23.1%8 17.3%8
Arbitrations listed
CommonLawDivision 0 0 0 0 0
1 “Court-annexedmediation”referstomediationsconductedbytheregistrarsoftheCourtwhoarealsoqualifiedasmediators.Itexcludessettlementconferencesconductedbyjudgesandmediationsconductedbyprivatemediators.
2 Thissectionreferstocourt-annexedmediationlistingsfortheyear–notethatreferralstocourt-annexedmediationthataremadelateinoneyearmayresultinlistingsearlyinthefollowingyear.
3 Thereductionincasesbeingreferredtothecourt-annexedmediationprogramsince2014isprincipallyduetoearlyuseofinformalsettlementconferencesforfamilyprovisioncasesinvolvingestatesvaluedatlessthan$500,000(amoredetailedexplanationoftheimpactisgiveninthe2014AnnualReview).
4 Thisrefersonlytocaseswherethepartieshavesettledandeitheragreeduponfinalisingordersordraftedheadsofagreementbythecloseofthemediationprocedure.Itdoesnotincludecasesthatadviseasettlementatanylatertime(eventhoughthemediationmayhavecontributedsignificantlytoreachingthatsettlement).In2015,forexample,inadditiontothe51%ofcasesthatsettledatthecloseoftheircourt-annexedmediationsession,afurther26%ofcaseswerenegotiatingasettlement.Theregistrydoesnotcollectsettlementdataformediationsconductedbyprivatemediators.
5 Thisisthewaitingtimetothefirstavailablegroupofmediationsessionswithinthecourt-annexedmediationprogram,asreportedatthestartofthenewlawterm(forexample,for2016itisthepositionatthestartofthe2017lawterm).ThewaitingtimewillbelessifanurgentmediationsessionisorderedbytheCourt.
6 ThiscoversalloccasionswhentheCourtrefersacasetomediation,regardlessofwhetherthemediationistobeconductedthroughthecourt-annexedmediationprogramorbyaprivatemediator.
7 The“mediationreferralindex”isthenumberofcasesreferredtomediationduringtheyear,expressedasapercentageofthenumberofcaseslodged(inthatyear)thatareofatypeforwhichmediationisconsideredtobeapplicable.Forthepurposeofcalculatingthemediationreferralindex,mediationisconsideredtobeapplicableforallcivilcasestypes(includingappealcases)notingthefollowingexceptions:proceedsofcrimecases,casesthathaveahighlikelihoodofproceedingtodefaultjudgmentorhavenodefendantelement,allcasesintheAdoptionsListorProtectiveList,and90percentofcasesintheCorporationsList.Whileacasemaybeofatypeforwhichmediationisconsideredtobeapplicable,theremaybeaparticularaspectofthatcaseindividuallythatmakesitinappropriateformediation;however,thecalculationofthemediationreferralindexdoesnotexcludeanycasesonthatbasis.
8 Reducedusageofcourt-annexedmediation,asaresultofuseofearlyinformalsettlementconferences(seefootnote3),hassomeimpactonthesefigures.
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APPENDIX (II): THE COURT’S COMMITTEES AND USER GROUPS
Chief Justice’s Executive CommitteeTheChiefJustice’sExecutiveCommitteewasestablishedinAugust2011tofacilitatecontemporaneousconsiderationandresolutionofsignificantoperationalstrategicissues.TheCommitteemetweeklythroughout2016,exceptduringperiodswhentheChiefJusticewasnotavailableorunlesstheChiefJusticedecidednottoholdameeting.
Members during 2016TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBathurst(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBeazleyAOTheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeBerginMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrar
Adoptions list Users Group
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBreretonAMRFD(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeKuncMrRobertSvoronos,MsGraceRomeo,FamilyandCommunityServicesMsBrookeBowman,FamilyandCommunity
ServicesMrDerekSmith,FamilyandCommunityServicesMsNicolaCallander,LegalAidNSWMsAmandaHall,LegalAidNSWMsNicoleHailstone,CrownSolicitor’sOfficeMsJackiePalmer,AnglicareMsLisaVihtonen,BarnardosAustraliaMsLynneMoggach,BarnardosAustraliaMsDonnaWard,BarristerMsEstherLawson,BarristerMrAlistairHarvey-Sutton,Solicitor
Alternative Dispute Resolution Steering CommitteeTheAlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR)SteeringCommitteewhichwasestablishedin1993meetstodiscusstheCourt’sADRprocessesandconsiderwaysinwhichtheymightbeimproved.TheCommitteeworkstoencouragetheuseofADR(particularlymediation)inresolvingdisputes,andtoensuretheCourthasadequateresourcestoprovidethisservice.TheCommitteemakes
recommendationstotheChiefJusticeinpursuitoftheseobjectives,consultingwithothercourtsandexternalorganisationswhereappropriate.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeWard(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeHallTheHonourableJusticeSackarTheHonourableJusticeHallenMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMsRebelKenna,Director&ProthonotaryMsLeonieWalton,Registrar,EquityMrNicholasFlaskas,SeniorDeputyRegistrar
(Secretary)MsABowneMsMaryWalkerMrStephenTitus(CarneysLawyers)
Appeal Courts Judgment Writing Committee (NJCA)
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeFraser,CourtofAppeal
Queensland(Chair)TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeAllsop,Federal
CourtofAustraliaTheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBlow,Supreme
CourtTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeAinslieWallace,Family
CourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeBlue,SupremeCourtSouth
AustraliaTheHonJohnDoyle,SupremeCourtSouth
Australia(retired)TheHonourableJusticeFrances,CourtofAppeal,
NewZealandTheHonourableJusticeMacfarlanTheHonourableJusticeNeave,CourtofAppeal
VictoriaTheHonourableJusticePullin,CourtofAppeal
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeSouthwood,Supreme
CourtNorthernTerritory
55
Building CommitteeTheCommitteemeetsapproximatelyeverytwomonthstodiscussmattersaffectingthebuildingswithintheDarlinghurstandKingStreetcourtcomplexes,andtheLawCourtsBuildinginPhillipStreet.TheCommitteealsoidentifiesfacilitiesthatarerequiredtosupportcourtroomoperationsandtheneedsofCourtusers.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeMcDougall(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeBreretonAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeMcCallumTheHonourableJusticeStevensonTheHonourableJusticeHallenMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMrNickSanderson-Gough,Manager,Court
OperationsandCommunicationsMrNathanGray,CourtroomSupportCoordinator
(Secretary)
Caselaw Governance CommitteeTheCaselawGovernanceCommitteewasestablishedtoprovideaforumfordiscussionattendedbyrepresentativesofthevariouscourtsandtribunalswhichpublishjudgmentsanddecisionsonNSWCaselaw.NSWCaselawisaplatformrunbytheDepartmentofJustice,oftheNewSouthWalesGovernment.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBasten(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeBlackTheHonourableJusticeCraig,Landand
EnvironmentCourtTheHonourableJudgeBerman,DistrictCourtHerHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateCulver,
LocalCourtTheHonourableJusticeRobertsonWright,New
SouthWalesCivilandAdministrativeTribunalMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
Registrar
Australasian Joint Judges’ Committee – (Organising Committee Joint Supreme Court/Federal Court Conference)
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeRothman(Chair)TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBlow,Supreme
CourtTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeCavanough,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticePenfold,SupremeCourtof
AustralianCapitalTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeHeath,HighCourtof
NewZealandTheHonourableJusticeJessup,FederalCourtof
AustraliaTheHonourableJusticeSouthwood,Supreme
CourtofNorthernTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeLyons,SupremeCourtof
QueenslandTheHonourableJusticeHeenan,SupremeCourtof
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeVanstone,SupremeCourt
ofSouthAustralia
Board of State Records Authority of New South WalesTheStateRecordsAuthorityofNewSouthWalesistheNewSouthWalesGovernment’sarchivesandrecordsmanagementauthority.ItspurposesaretopreservetheState’sarchivesandpromotetheiruse,andtosetstandardsandprovideguidanceandservicestoimproverecordsmanagementintheNewSouthWalesPublicSector.Pursuanttoitsgoverninglegislation,itsBoardisrequiredtoincludeaNewSouthWalesjudgenominatedbytheChiefJusticeofNewSouthWales.TheHonJusticeMacfarlanisthepresentnominee.
Members during 2016MsAnneHenderson(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeMacfarlanTheHonDrPeterPhelpsMLCDrStephenCoulartonMrAnthonyLeanMrScottNash
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Bar Association of New South Wales MrMarkAshhurstSC,UniversityChambersMrFrankCorsaroSC,StateChambersMrFrancisHicks,BlackstoneChambersMrNickKiddSC,7SelborneChambersMrDuncanMillerSC,7WentworthChambersMrRobertNewlindsSC,BancoChambersMrMichaelRudgeSC,NigelBowenChambersDrKristinaSternSC,6SelborneChambersMrDavidSulan,BancoChambers
Law Society of New South Wales MsJenniferBall,ClaytonUtzMrAndrewCarter,AshurstMrCameronHanson,HerbertSmithFreehillsMrRichardHarris,AllensLinklatersMrScottHarris,DLAPiperMrSimonJohnson,NortonRoseFulbrightAustraliaMrBradKermond,ColinBiggers&PaisleyMrAlistairLittle,TressCoxMrLindsayPowers,MinterEllisonMrMarkWatson,WatsonMangioni
Common law Civil Users GroupTheGroupprovidesaforumfordiscussingandaddressingmattersofconcernorinterestintheadministrationoftheCommonLawDivision’sciviltrialworkload.TheCommitteemettodiscussmattersincluding:caseloadmanagement,listingpracticeanddelays,specialistlists,juryissuesandregionalhearings.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeHoebenTheHonourableJusticeHallTheHonourableJusticeGarlingMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMrChristopherBradford,Registrar,CommonLawMrPeterDeakinQC,SirJamesMartinChambersMrEugeneRomaniukSC,JackShandChambersMsLornaMcFee,NewSouthWalesBarAssociationMrEliasYamine,LawSocietyNewSouthWalesMsRaminaKambar,LawSocietyNewSouthWales
MsJoanneGray,Registrar,LandandEnvironmentCourt
MsCathySzczygielski,PrincipalRegistrar,NewSouthWalesCivilandAdministrativeTribunal
MsRosemaryDavidson,ExecutiveOfficer,Children’sCourt
MsVanessaBlackmore,LibraryServices(SecretariatSupport)
MsDonnaReece,CaselawSupportOfficer,LibraryServices(SecretariatSupport)
Civil Bench Book
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeGarlingTheHonourableJusticeKunc
ClE for RegistrarsAnumberoftheregistrarsanddeputyregistrarsattendedaseriesofeightseminarsdeliveredtotheLawSocietyofNewSouthWalesandtheNewSouthWalesBarAssociationonmattersinvolvingtheProbateandSuccessionListandtheFamilyProvisionList.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeWhiteTheHonourableJusticeSchmidtTheHonourableJusticeHallen
College of law
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeHallen
Commercial list Users GroupTheGroupprovidesaforumfordiscussionamongsttheCommercialListJudgesandlegalpractitionerswhopractiseintheCommercialList.TheGroupmeetstodiscussvariousissuesconcerningtheadministrationoftheList,includingmattersofprocedureandpracticeinrelationtotheListsandthepotentialforrevisionofthepracticetoensurethattheListsoperateasefficientlyaspossible.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeWardTheHonourableJusticeHammerschlagJ
(ListJudge)(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeMcDougall
57
MsDeniseNorth,InsolvencyPractitionersofAustralia
MsMariaO’Brien,BakerMcKenzie
Costs Assessment Users Group
Members during 2016 TheHonourableJusticeBrereton(Chair)HerHonourJudgeGibson,DistrictCourtofNew
SouthWalesMsJenniferHedge,Manager,CostsAssessment
(untilAugust)MrBrendanBellach,Manager,CostsAssessment
(Augustonwards)MsSamanthaGulliver(OfficeoftheLegalServices
Commissioner)MrGordonSalierMrMichaelRobinsonMsGeraldineDaleyMsDeborahVine-HallMsPetaSolomonMsMichelleCastleMsKerrieRosatiMsAlysonAsheMsValerieHigginbothamMrRossNicholasMrRossNicholas
Court of Criminal Appeal/Crime Users GroupThejointCourtofCriminalAppeal/CrimeUsersGroupmeetsasrequiredtopromoteeffectivecommunicationbetweentheCourtandkeyusers.TheGroupfocusesonensuringthatCourtofCriminalAppealproceduresworkeffectivelyandefficientlywithintherequiredtimeframes.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeHoeben(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMsRebelKenna,Director&ProthonotaryMsAlannaVanDerVeen,Registrar,Courtof
CriminalAppeal(untilJune)MsKatrinaCurry,Registrar,CourtofCriminal
Appeal(Juneonwards)MrMarkIeraceSC,PublicDefendersOffice
Corporations list Users Group TheGrouppromotesopenandregulardiscussionbetweenjudicialofficersandlegalpractitionersregardingtheCorporationsList,andassistsinensuringthattheListisconductedinafairandefficientmanner.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBreretonTheHonourableJusticeBlackMsRebelKenna,Director&ProthonotaryMsLeonieWalton,Registrar,EquityMsJenniferHedge,SeniorDeputyRegistrar
Bar Association of New South Wales MrDamianAllen,EighthFloorWindeyerChambersMrMilesKCondonSC,SixteenthFloorWardell
ChambersMrDoranCook,BlackstoneChambersMrStevenGolledge,ThirdFloorStJamesHall
ChambersMrJimJohnson,FrederickJordanChambersMrRogerDMarshall,GroundFloorWentworth
ChambersMrRobertNewlindsSC,BancoChambersMrMalcolmOakesSC,TenthFloorChambersMrDavidPritchardSC,ThirdFloorStJamesHall
ChambersMrDavidStack,BlackstoneChambersMrJimThomson,ThirteenthWentworthSelborne
Chambers
Law Society of New South WalesMrCharlesBavin,Hunt&HuntMrAndrewCarter,AshurstMrGlenCussen,KempStrangMsGeorginaHayden,ASICMrMichaelHayter,GillisDelaneyMrBenHely,HerbertSmithFreehillsMrLukeHastings,HerbertSmithFreehillsMrMichaelHughes,MinterEllisonMsAamenaHussein,CraddockMurrayNeumannMsLindaJohnson,MallesonsMrKhaledMetlej,CraddockMurrayNeumannMrDavidMcCrostie,TurksLegalMrAlexanderMorris,MallesonsMrMichaelMurray,InsolvencyPractitioners
ofAustralia
58
SouthWales,plansandorganisescontinuingjudicialeducationforjudgesoftheCourt.
TheprincipalactivityoftheCommitteeinvolvestheplanningfortheannualSupremeCourtconferenceheldinAugustorSeptember.TheunderlyingfocusoftheCommittee,initscollaborationwiththeJudicialCommission,istomaintain,asinpastyears,ahighstandardofprofessionaldevelopmentandtrainingforjudgesoftheCourt.Asinthepast,theCommitteeandtheCourtareindebtedtothespeakerswhopreparedandpresentedpapersatthevariousseminarsandattheconference.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBasten(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeLeemingTheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeHarrisonTheHonourableJusticeSchmidtTheHonourableJusticeGarlingRFDTheHonourableJusticeBlackTheHonourableJusticeWhiteMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMsUnaDoyle,EducationDirector,Judicial
CommissionofNewSouthWales(Convenor)
Equity liaison GroupThisGroupwasestablishedin2001topromotediscoursebetweenthelegalprofessionandrepresentativesoftheEquityDivisioninregardtomattersofinterestandimportancetotheoperationoftheDivision.TheGroupisinformalandthemeetingsfacilitatecandiddiscussionsabouttheoperationsoftheDivision.Typically,thesediscussionsencouragecooperationbetweenthejudgesandlegalprofessionindevelopingsuggestedimprovementstotheDivision’soperations.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBergin(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeSlatteryLeonieWalton,Registrar-EquityDivisionMrCRCNewlindsSCMrRRIHarperSCMsJANeedhamSCMrGASirtesSC
MsEuniceWalsham,ManagerBusinessSupport,RSB
MrPhillipIngramSC,OfficeoftheDirectorofPublicProsecutions
MrGeorgeGalanis,CommonwealthDirectorofPublicProsecutions
MsEllenMcKenzie,CommonwealthDirectorofPublicProsecutions
MsJanetWitmer,LegalAidCommissionNewSouthWales
MsMadeleineSchneider,LegalAidCommissionNewSouthWales
MsClairWasley,AboriginalLegalServicesNewSouthWales/AustralianCapitalTerritory
MrSOdgersSC,NewSouthWalesBarAssociationMsElizabethHall,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesMrDavidGiddy,LawSocietyNewSouthWalesMsPamOlsoen,SeniorRegistrar,LocalCourts
Criminal Trial Bench BookTheCriminalTrialsBenchBookCommitteeischairedbytheHonourableRodHowieQC.MrHughDonnelly,Director,ResearchandSentencing,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesistheConvenor).ThejudicialmembersoftheCommitteearelistedbelow.ItsfunctionistocontinuallyreviseandupdatetheCriminalTrialsBenchBookwithsuggestedjurydirectionsandinformationonproceduralaspectsconcerningthemyriadissuesthatariseinthecourseofcriminaltrialsintheDistrictCourtandtheSupremeCourt.Thecommitteedoesnotconveneformalmeetingsbutengagesinregulardiscussionbyelectronicmeans.
Members during 2016TheHonourableRodHowieQC(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeHisHonourJudgeLakatosSC,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeArnott,DistrictCourtofNew
SouthWalesMrHughDonnelly,JudicialCommission(Convenor)
Education CommitteeTheSupremeCourtEducationCommittee,inpartnershipwiththeJudicialCommissionofNew
59
TheHonourableJusticeDouglas,SupremeCourtofQueensland
TheHonourableJusticeLeMiere,SupremeCourtofWesternAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeBlue,SupremeCourtofSouthAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeWhite,SupremeCourtofSouthAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeEvans,SupremeCourtofTasmania
TheHonourableJusticeRefshuage,SupremeCourtofAustralianCapitalTerritory
MasterLuppino,SupremeCourtofNorthernTerritory
TheHonourableJusticeStrickland,FamilyCourtofAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeFogarty,HighCourt,NewZealand
TheHonourableJusticeKenny,FederalCourtofAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeLander,FederalCourtofAustralia
ProfessorGregoryReinhardt,AustralasianInstituteofJudicialAdministration
MrJohnMathieson,DeputyRegistrar,FederalCourtofAustralia(Secretary)
MsMelanieFaithfull,FederalCourtofAustralia(Minutes)
Information TechnologyTheInformationTechnologyCommitteemeetstoassesstheinformationtechnologyneedsofjudicialofficersandtheirstaff,thetechnologyfacilitiesincourtroomsthroughouttheStateusedbytheCourtandtoreviewtheimplementationofITservices.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeGarling(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeGleesonTheHonourableJusticeMcDougallTheHonourableJusticeSackarTheHonourableJusticeBeech-JonesMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMrNickSanderson-Gough,Manager,Court
OperationsandCommunicationsMrSamZilic,SupremeCourtInformation
TechnologyCoordinator
MsVWhittakerMrMAshhurstSCMrMKCondonSCMsAMKennedyMrJKMartinMrBJMillerMsPGSuttorMrCAlexander
Harmonisation CommitteeTheHarmonisationofRulesCommitteeisacommitteeoftheCouncilofChiefJustices.IthasrepresentativesoftheFederalCourtofAustralia,theFamilyCourtofAustralia,eachoftheSupremeCourtsofAustraliaandtheHighCourtofNewZealand.ThegoalsoftheCommitteearetheharmonisationofrulesofcourtand,asappropriate,practiceinspecificsubjectareas,eitherasidentifiedbyreferencesfromtheCouncilofChiefJusticesor,withtheendorsementoftheCouncil,byconsensusamongstparticipatingjurisdictions,throughthemembersoftheCommittee.TheCommitteemonitorstheoperationofharmonisedrulesofcourtandpracticeadoptedbyparticipatingjurisdictions,aswellasrelevantproposalsformodificationofthesubstantivelaw,togenerateamendmentstothoserulesandpracticesonaharmonisedbasis.TheconvenoroftheCommitteeisappointedbytheCouncilofChiefJustices.Othermembersarenominatedbytheheadofeachparticipatingjurisdictionforoneormorespecificsubjectareaprojects,forthemonitoringofadoptedharmonisedrulesofcourtorforboth.TheCommitteeissupportedbyaRegistraroftheFederalCourt,withresearchandadvicefromtheAustralasianInstituteofJudicialAdministration.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeEmmett(Chairand
Convenor)TheHonourableJusticeHammerschlag,Supreme
CourtofNewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeRein,SupremeCourtof
NewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeCavanough,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeCroft,SupremeCourtof
Victoria
60
MagistrateLeanneO’Shea,MagistratesCourtofQueensland
ChiefJudgeJohnPascoe,AOCVO,FederalCircuitCourtofAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeHilaryPenfold,PSM,SupremeCourtoftheAustralianCapitalTerritory
HisHonourJudgeMichaelShanahan,DistrictCourtofQueensland
TheHonourableJusticeTerrySheahan,AO,LandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWales
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelWalton,President,IndustrialRelationsCommissionofNewSouthWales
Judicial Commission of New South WalesTheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesprovidesacontinuingeducationandinformationprogramforthejudicialofficersofNewSouthWales,andexaminescomplaintsaboutjudicialofficers’abilityorbehaviour.TenCommissionmembersguidetheCommission’sstrategicdirectionandexamineallcomplaints.
Members during 2016TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBathurst
(PresidentandChair)TheHonourableJusticeBeazleyTheHonourableJusticeWalton,IndustrialRelations
CommissionofNewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticePreston,Landand
EnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeDerekPrice,AM,
ChiefJudge,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeHenson,NewSouthWales
LocalCourtDrJudithCashmoreAOMrDavidGiddyProfessorBrianMcCaughanAMMrYairMiller
Judgment Writing Program Committee (National Judicial College of Australia)ThePlanningCommitteeforJudgmentWritinghasbeendevelopedfortheAustralianjudiciary.Theprogramisdesignedtoenhanceparticipants’judgmentwritingskillsthroughanalysis,discussionsandrewritingofjudgmentsinsmallgroups,assistedbyprofessionalwritersandseniorjudges.
MrAaronLiu,Director,InformationTechnologyServices
MrJohnMahon,InformationTechnologyServicesMsKathyDuke,InformationTechnologyServicesMrConDoulgeris,InformationTechnologyServices
Judicial Conference of Australia
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBeech-JonesTheHonourableJusticePhilipMcMurdo,Supreme
CourtofQueensland,(President)TheHonourableJusticeStevenRares,Federal
CourtofAustralia(VicePresident)HisHonourJudgeBrianWithers,SupremeCourtof
SouthAustralia(Treasurer)MagistrateRichardBayly,MagistratesCourtof
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeDavidBeach,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaChiefJusticeAlanBlow,OAM,SupremeCourt
ofTasmaniaChiefMagistrateElizabethBolton,Magistrates
CourtofSouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeWayneChivell,District
CourtofSouthAustraliaHisHonourJudgeAllanFenbury,DistrictCourtof
WesternAustraliaMagistrateKarynFryar,AM,MagistratesCourtof
theAustralianCapitalTerritoryMagistrateGregoryGrogin,LocalCourtofNew
SouthWalesMagistrateDonaldJones,MagistratesCourt
ofTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeJudithKelly,SupremeCourt
oftheNorthernTerritoryChiefMagistratePeterLauritsen,MagistratesCourt
ofVictoriaChiefMagistrateJohnLowndes,MagistratesCourt
ofNorthernTerritoryHisHonourJudgeMichaelMcInerney,CountyCourt
ofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeCarmelMcLure,Supreme
CourtofWesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticePeterMurphy,FamilyCourt
ofAustraliaHisHonourJudgeGaryNeilson,DistrictCourt
ofNewSouthWales
61
law Admissions Consultative CommitteeTheLawAdmissionsConsultativeCommitteeconsistsofrepresentativesofthelawadmittingauthorityineachAustraliajurisdiction,theCommitteeofAustralianLawDeans,theAustralasianProfessionalLegalEducationCouncilandtheLawCouncilofAustralia.ItisgenerallyresponsibletotheCouncilofChiefJustices,whichappointsthechairmanofLACC.LACC’smainroleistoforgeconsensusbetweenthebodiesrepresentedbyitsmembersonmattersrelatingtotheacademicandpracticallegaltrainingrequirementsforadmissiontotheAustralianlegalprofession.ThefunctionsofLACCaretodevelop,considerandmakerecommendationsaboutpolicies,proceduresandothermattersdirectlyorindirectlyrelatedtoadmissiontothelegalprofession.
Members during 2016ProfessorSandfordDClark(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeEmmett
law Courts library Advisory CommitteeTheCommitteewasestablishedin2003pursuanttoaMemorandumofUnderstandingbetweentheFederalCourtandtheNewSouthWalesAttorneyGeneral’sDepartmentrelatingtotheLawCourtsLibrarysituatedintheLawCourtsBuildingatQueen’sSquareSydney.
TheCommitteegivesadviceinrelationtothemanagementofthelibraryanditscollectionsandisconstitutedbythreerepresentativesfromeachoftheSupremeCourtandFederalCourt.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBastenTheHonourableJusticeMacfarlanTheHonourableJusticeEmmettTheHonourableJusticeFlick,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeJagot,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticePerram,FederalCourt
ofAustralia
Members during 2016TheHonourableTomWodak,CountyCourtof
Victoria(retired)(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeSchmidtHerHonourMagistratePennyEldridge,Magistrates
CourtofSouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeHollingworth,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeMullins,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeMurphy,FamilyCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeWilson,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandMrKenGrime,CEONJCAMrJohnMcGinness,NJCADrLizaRybak,NJCAMsJulievandenEngel,NationalJudicialCollege
ofAustralia(Programmemanager)
JusticelinkTheCommitteeconsistsofnominatedjudicialrepresentativesfromtheCourtandkeystaffmembersfromtheCourt’sRegistrywhohaveexpertiseinworkingwiththeCourt’scasemanagementsystem,JusticeLink.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBergin(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeHammerschlagTheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMsVictoriaBradshaw,AssociatetotheHonourable
theChiefJusticeBathurstMsMornaLynch,AssociatetotheHonourable
JusticeHoebenMsCianaGoodwin,AssociatetotheHonourable
JusticeJohnsonMsCarolLloyd,AssociatetotheHonourable
JusticeRAHulmeMsKimPitt,AssociatetotheHonourable
JusticeBerginMsColleenSutton,AssociatetotheHonourable
JusticeHammerschlagMrMilioCesta-Incani,Manager,ListingServicesMsNaomiUbrihien,Manager,ClientServices
(Secretary)
62
TheHonourableJusticeDavies(DeputyPresidingMember)
TheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticePayne(from17December)
Bar Association of New South Wales MrGarryMcGrathSCMsMargaretAllarsSC
Law Society of New South Wales MrCharlesCawleyMrJohnDobson
OrganisationsProfessorLesleyHitchens(DeanofLaw,University
ofTechnology,Sydney)ProfessorMichaelAdams(DeanofLaw,University
ofWesternSydney)MrMarcelSavary(until7August)DrJacobCampbell(from30August)
legal Profession Admission Board Examinations Committee
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeSimpson(Chairperson)TheHonourableJusticeHall(DeputyChairperson
until30June)TheHonourableJusticeDarke(from1July)MrRossAndersonMrFrankAstillMsSusanCarterMrMichaelChristieSCMrJohnDobsonMrAndrewBoogMrMaureenNoonan
legal Profession Admission Board legal Qualifications Committee
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeAdamson(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBeech-Jones(Deputy
Chairpersonuntil30June)TheHonourableJusticeRobbTheHonourableJusticeAdams(from1July)DrGordonElkingtonMsMaxineEversMrJohnFernonSCMsSusanLeis(until30June)
law Extension Committee (Sydney University)
Members during 2016HerHonourMagistrateDaphneAKok(Senate
nominee)(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBrereton(ChiefJustice’s
nominee)ProfessorJoellenRiley,Dean,LawSchoolMrRossAnderson,(LawSchoolnominee)ProfessorGregTolhurst(LawSchoolnominee)ProfessorCameronStewart(LawSchoolnominee)ProfessorAnnBrewer(Senatenominee)ProfessorRoslynArnold(Senatenominee)ProfessorTyroneCarlin(Senatenominee)MrTonyO’Brien(BarAssociationofNSWnominee)MsJanetOakley(BarAssociationofNSWnominee)MrJohnDobson(LawSocietyofNSWnominee)MsHeidiFairhall(LawSocietyofNSWnominee)MsBelindaHutchinsonAM,ChancellorDrMichaelSpence,ViceChancellorMrAlecBrennan,DeputyChancellor
law Reform Commission
Members during 2016MrAlanCameronAO(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonDeputyChiefMagistrateJaneMotleyMrTimGamesSCTheHonourableHaroldSperlingQC(retired)ProfessorDavidWeisbrotAMTheHonourableAnthonyWhealyQCMrPaulMcKnight
legal Profession Admission BoardJusticeEmmetthasbeenthenomineeoftheChiefJusticeaspresidingmemberontheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoard.TheBoardhasresponsibilityforthreebroadfunctions,beingtheoversightoftheapprovalandadmissionoflawyersinNewSouthWales,theaccreditationoflawschoolsinNewSouthWalesandtheexaminationofstudents-at-lawfortheDiplomaofLawcoursetaughtinconjunctionwiththeLawExtensionCommitteeoftheUniversityofSydney.
Members during 2016TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBathurstTheHonourableJusticeEmmett(PresidingMember)
63
National Admissions Committee
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeWhiteTheHonourableJusticeKyrou,SupremeCourtof
Victoria
National Judicial Orientation ProgrammeTheNationalJudicialOrientationProgramcommitteeassistsnewlyappointedjudgeswiththeirtransitiontojudicialoffice.Theprogramoffersinsightsintotheroleandresponsibilitiesofamemberofthejudiciary,providestheopportunityfornewappointeestobenefitfromtheknowledgeandexperienceofseniorjudgeswhoattendtheprogramasspeakers,andallowsforanexchangeofideasandexperiencesamongparticipants.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeSchmidt(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJamesEdelman,Federal
CourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeGlennMartin,Supreme
CourtofQueenslandHisHonourJudgeTomAltobelli,FederalCircuit
CourtofAustraliaHerHonourJudgePennyHock,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHerHonourJudgeWager,DistrictCourtof
WesternAustraliaProfessorGregReinhardt,AustralasianInstituteof
JudicialAdministrationMrErnestSchmattPSM,JudicialCommissionof
NewSouthWalesMsUnaDoyle,JudicialCommissionofNewSouth
WalesMsFionaDea,JudicialCollegeofVictoriaMsAnnabelMornement,JudicialCollegeofVictoria
Ngara Yura (Judicial Commission Aboriginal liaison Committee)
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeRothman(ChairuntilJuly)TheHonourableJusticeMcCallum(ChairfromJuly
onwards)TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeAllsopAO,
FederalCourtofAustralia
MsCarolynPenfoldMsElizabethPickerProfessorPeterRadanMrGregoryRossMrThomasSpohrMsPamSuttor(until30June)MsBlankaMoss(from1July)MrPeterUnderwood
Media Consultation GroupTheMediaConsultationGroupwasestablishedin2002topromoteopendiscussionbetweenkeyrepresentativesfromthecourts,legalprofessionandmedia.TheGroupconvenesonaneedsbasistodiscussissuesaffectingthereportingofcourtproceedingsbythemedia.NomeetingsoftheGroupwererequiredin2016.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeMcColl(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeHoebenTheHonourableJusticeMcCallumTheHonourableJusticeBallTheHonourableJusticeSackarTheHonourableJusticeBellewTheHonourableJusticeHamillHisHonourtheChiefJudgePrice,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesMrLloydBabbSC,NewSouthWalesDirectorof
PublicProsecutionsMrMarkIeraceSC,SeniorPublicDefenderMsLaurenFarrow,AustralianAssociatedPressMsJamelleWells,AustralianBroadcasting
CorporationMsAmyDale,DailyTelegraphMrRichardColeman,FairfaxLegalMsKellyFedor,NineNetworkMrPaulBibby,SydneyMorningHeraldMrGilTaylor,Radio2GBMsKatieWalsh,AustralianFinancialReviewMsAnnaCooper,OfficeoftheDirectorofPublic
ProsecutionsMediaLiaisonandCommunicationsOfficer
MsSonyaZadel,MediaManager,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales
MsJoOakes,MediaManager,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales
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MrJohnMcGinness,Director,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
MsJennyGreen,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
Possession list Users GroupThePossessionListUsersGroupwasestablishedin2006.ThePossessionListis,numerically,thelargestlistintheCommonLawDivisionandinvolvesclaimsforpossessionoflandfollowingmortgagedefault.TheGroupcomprisesrepresentativesfromarangeoflawfirmswhoregularlyappearforplaintiffsintheListandorganisations(LegalAidNewSouthWales,theConsumerCreditLegalCentreandRedfernLegalCentre)whoprovidelegalassistancetothoseexperiencingproblemswithdebt.TheGroupdoesnothaveappointedmembers.Rather,representativesfromthosefirmsandorganisationsattendandprovidearangeofviewsonrelevantissues.TheGroup’sprimaryobjectivesaretoencouragefrankdiscussionconcerningissuesaffectingtherunningoftheList,toidentifyhowanyproblemsmightbeovercomeandtoimprovecourtprocessestoassistpartiesinthisclassofproceedings.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeDavies(Chair)MsRebelKenna,DirectorandProthonotaryMrChristopherBradford,Registrar,Common
LawDivisionMrMilioCesta-Incani,Manager,ListingServices
Bar Association of New South Wales MrBrendanBurke(EdmundBartonChambers)
Law Society of New South Wales MrTimSherrard,GadensMsHelenvanRavels,GadensMrCampbellHudson,GadensMrSamSchroeder,GadensMsNoraMinassian,GadensMsSamanthaTang,GadensMsChamilaFernando,GadensMrRodCameron,HicksonsMrScottStierli,HicksonsMrSeanCameron,HicksonsMsDanielleKuti,DibbsAbbottStillmanMsEmmaHodgman,DibbsAbbottStillman
TheHonourableJusticeRachelPepper,LandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWales
HisHonourJudgeAndrewHaesler,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWales(untilJuly)
HerHonourJudgeDinaYehia,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWales(Julyonwards)
HerHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateJaneMottley,LocalCourtofNewSouthWales
HerHonourMagistrateTeresaO’Sullivan,LocalCourtofNewSouthWales
HerHonourMagistrateSueDuncombe,NewSouthWalesChildren’sCourt
MrTerryChenery,CEO,HunterAboriginalChildren’sServices(untilJuly)
MrJasonBehrendt,LegalExecutive,Chalk&BehrendtLawyersandConsultants(Julyonwards)
MsDixieLink-Gordon,SeniorCommunityAccessOfficer,IndigenousWomen’sLegalProgram,Women’sLegalServiceNSW(Julyonwards)
MrErnieSchmattPSM,ChiefExecutive,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales
MsRuthWindeler,EducationDirector,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales(Convenor)
MsRuthSheard,Manager,ConferencesandCommunication,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales
MsJoanneSelfe,NgaraYuraProgramProjectOfficer
Planning Committee for Dialogues on being a Judge (National Judicial College of Australia)ThePlanningCommitteeforDialoguesonbeingaJudgedevelopsprogramsformid-careerjudgesandmagistratestoprovideanopportunityforthemtoexaminetheirapproachtotheirworkthroughtheexplorationofanumberofcontemporarythemes.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeDowsett,FederalCourtof
Australia(Chair)TheHonourableJohnDoyle,FormerlyChiefJustice
ofSupremeCourtofSouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeMonikaSchmidtTheHonourableJusticeAnnAinslie-Wallace,
FamilyCourtofAustraliaHisHonourGordonBarrett,DistrictCourtof
SouthAustralia
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MsRPollard,NewSouthWalesTrusteeandGuardian
MrPWhitehead(representingtrusteecompanies)MrMWillmott,NewSouthWalesBarAssociation
Professional Negligence list Users GroupTheGroupmeetsasrequiredtodiscussissuesrelevanttotheadministrationandoperationoftheList.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeHarrison(Chairand
Convenor)
Bar Association of New South Wales MrDavidHiggsSCMrRichardWeinsteinSCMrDuncanGrahamSCMrMichaelFordhamSCMsJuliaLonerganSCMsJacquiSandfordMsKathrynSantMrJasonDowningMsAnneHorvathMrPatrickRooney
Law Society of New South WalesMsLouiseCantrell,HenryDavisYorkMsKerrieChambers,EbsworthsMsRebeccaKearney,AvantMsKarenKumar,HicksonsMrBillMadden,Slater&GordonMsJulieMahony,StacksGoudkampMsFrancescaMinniti,CurwoodsMrDonMunro,TressCocksMsAnnaWalsh,MauriceBlackburn
Rule CommitteeTheRuleCommitteemeetsasrequiredtoconsiderproposedchangestotheSupremeCourtRules1970withaviewtoincreasingtheefficiencyoftheCourt’soperations,andreducingcostanddelayinaccordancewiththerequirementsofaccesstojustice.TheCommitteeisastatutorybodythathasthepowertoalter,addto,orrescindanyoftheRulescontainedin,orcreatedunder,theSupreme Court Act1970.TheCommittee’smembershipisdefinedinSection123oftheAct,andincludesrepresentativesfromeachDivisionoftheCourtand
MsAlexandraStreltsova,DibbsAbbottStillmanMsSusanLever,HerbertSmithFreehillsMsFionaParker,HenryDavisYorkMsAzitaDoudman,HenryDavisYorkMsMichelleGlennon,HenryDavisYorkMsAlisonMcManus,NortonRoseFulbrightMsCaitlinWatson,AtkinsonVindenMrMichaelConnor,DibbsBarkerMrMatthewPike,KempStrangMsKristinaFraser,KempStrangMrAddyPong,KempStrangMsSamanthaParsons,KempStrang
Organisations MsSusanWinfield,ConsumerCreditLegalCentreMsAliceLin,ConsumerCreditLegalCentreMrJohnMoratelli,LegalAidNewSouthWalesMrDaveMcMillan,LegalAidNewSouthWalesMsKateWhite,NAB-LegalMsHayleyBarker,NAB-LegalMsHeidiCrawford,NAB-Legal
Probate Users GroupTheGroupmeetsfromtimetotimetodiscussmattersconcerningtheoperationandadministrationoftheCourt’sprobatework.TheGroupconsidersimprovementstopracticesandprocessesandmakesrecommendationstotheRulesCommitteewhenappropriate.TheGroupalsodiscussesspecificissuespertinenttoprobatemattersanddeceasedestatesgenerally.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticeHallenMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistarMsRebelKenna,Manager,CourtServices&
ProthonotaryMsLouiseBrown,SeniorDeputyRegistrarMrJonathanSimpkinsSCMrJohnArmfieldProfessorRCroucher,MacquarieUniversity
(representingNewSouthWalesLawSchools)MsPVines,UniversityofNewSouthWalesMrRNeal,LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesMsPSuttor,LawSocietyofNewSouthWales
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ThemeetingsoftheCommittee,heldtwoorthreetimeseachyear,provideavaluableforumforeachofthecourtstoexchangeideasandco-ordinatetheirplansforeducationalactivities,tomakerecommendationstotheCommissionforactivitieswhichitmaywishtoorganiseandtoobtainadvicefromtheCommissionastotheCommission’sexperienceinobtainingspeakersandconductingthevariousprograms.
Members during 2016TheHonourableJusticeBasten(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeWalton,President,Industrial
RelationsCommissionofNewSouthWales(until8December)
TheHonourableJusticePain,LandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWales
HisHonourJudgeLakatosSC,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWales
HisHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateChrisO’Brien,LocalCourtofNewSouthWales
MsUnaDoyle,EducationDirector,JudicialCommissionofNSW
Uniform Rules CommitteeTheCivil Procedure Act2005(NSW)andtheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005(NSW)commencedin2005,consolidatingprovisionsinrelationtocivilprocedureunderasingleAct.ItprovidesacommonsetofrulesforcivilproceedingsintheSupreme,DistrictandLocalCourtsofNewSouthWales,and,toalimitedextent,intheLandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesandtheIndustrialRelationsCommissionofNewSouthWales.TheUniformRulesCommitteewasestablishedunderSection8andSchedule2oftheAct.TheChiefJusticechairstheCommittee,withrepresentativesfromtheSupremeCourtandothercourts,aswellasfromtheNewSouthWalesBarAssociationandtheLawSocietyofNewSouthWales.TheCommitteemetninetimesduring2016.AswellasconsideringamendmentstotheRules(undersection9oftheAct),theCommitteeapprovesformsforuseincivilproceedings(undersection17oftheAct).
keyorganisationswithinthelegalprofession.ManyoftherulesthatgoverncivilproceedingsarenowincorporatedintheUniformCivilProcedureRules.Inthesecircumstances,fewermeetingsoftheRuleCommitteehavebeenrequired.
Members during 2016TheHonourabletheChiefJusticeBathurst(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBeazleyTheHonourableJusticeMeagherTheHonourableJusticeHoebenTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticeDarkeMsSylviaVernandez,LawSocietyofNewSouth
WalesMrStevenJupp(Secretary)MrNicholasFlaskas(AdvisingOfficer)MsCarolWebsterSC(NSWBarAssociation
representative)MrDavidHing(LawSocietyofNewSouthWales
deputy/alternate)
Standing Advisory Committee of the Judicial Commission on Judicial EducationTheStandingAdvisoryCommitteeonJudicialEducationadvisestheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesaboutcontinuingjudicialeducation.Itsactivitiesincludeidentifyingspecificneedsandrecommendingparticulareducationalactivities;recommendingpapersforpublicationinThe Judicial Review,andcoordinatingtheactivitiesoftherespectivecourt’sEducationCommittees,whereappropriate.
Membershipconsistsofthechairpersons(ortheirrepresentatives)oftheEducationCommitteesofeachofthefivecourts.TheCommitteeischairedbytherepresentativefromtheSupremeCourt,currentlyJusticeJohnBasten.
OntherecommendationoftheCommittee,theJudicialCommissionadoptedthepracticeofsendingane-Newslettertojudicialofficers.AsignificantpartofthebusinessofthemembersistheirconsiderationofpapersforpublicationintheJudicialReview.
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Members during 2016TheHonourabletheChiefJustice(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBeazleyTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticeWalton,President,IRC
(until8December)TheHonourableJusticePreston,ChiefJudge,LECHerHonourJudgeTruss,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgePeterJohnstone,President,
NewSouthWalesChildren’sCourtHerHonourMagistrateJenniferAtkinson,
LocalCourtHisHonourMagistrateMichaelO’Brien,LocalCourtMsCarolWebsterSC(NewSouthWalesBar
Association)MsJuliaVirgo(LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesMsRebelKenna,DirectorandProthonotary
(Secretary)
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APPENDIX (III): OTHER JUDICIAl ACTIVITY
THE HONOURABlE T F BATHURST AC, CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW SOUTH WAlES
Conferences:
21–22Jan2016 SingaporeAcademyofLawInternationalConference:DoingBusinessAcrossAsia:LegalConvergenceinanAsianCentury(Singapore)
03Jun2016 OpeningofCouncilofLawReportingConference
12–15Aug2016 29thLAWASIAConference(SriLanka)
12–16Sep2016 PacificJudicialConference2016(PortMoresby,PapuaNewGuinea)
21–22Oct2016 5thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(HongKong)
26Oct2016 4thInternationalArbitrationConference(Sydney)
27–28Oct2016 AustralianBarAssociation&VictorianBarNationalConference(Melbourne)
15Nov2016 SupremeCourtCommercialandCorporateLawConference2016(BancoCourt)
Speaking engagements:
22Jan2016 PanelspeakeratSingaporeAcademyofLawInternationalConference:“Doing Business across Asia: Legal Convergence in an Asian Century”(Singapore)
04Feb2016 KeynoteAddress,LawSocietyofNewSouthWales,OpeningofLawTerm(ArtGalleryofNSW,Sydney)
10Feb2016 Welcome,OpeningofLawTermJewishDinner(GreatSynagogueSydney)
15Feb2016 Oration,OpeningoftheNewcastleCourthouse(Newcastle)
16Feb2016 Oration,GreekOrthodoxOpeningofLawTerm,RemarkstotheClergyandProfession(Redfern,Sydney)
02Mar2016 Speech,UNSWFacultyCLE,EvidenceActSeminar:“s138 – Improperly Obtained Evidence”(Sydney)
05Mar2016 Speech,NSWYoungLawyersCivilLitigationCommittee“Three contemporary issues in civil litigation: expert evidence, discovery and alternative dispute resolution”(Sydney)
08Mar2016 BookLaunchofJPHamilton,“Adjudication on the Goldfields in New South Wales and Victoria in the 19th Century”(BancoCourt,Sydney)
09Mar2016 Paneldiscussion,HerbertSmithFreehills:GlobalDiversityWeek,“The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace”(Sydney)
16Mar2016 PersonalReflection,BiographyofTheHonourableRichardEdmonds
21Mar2016 Speech,UNSWLawSocietyLectureSeries,“Contemporary Issues in Law”(LawSchool,UNSW)
31Mar2016 BookLaunch,MinterEllison“Minters Insurance Contracts Act Handbook, 9th Edition”(Sydney)
11Apr2016 PanelDiscussion,RoyalAustralasianCollegeofSurgeons:DomesticViolence(Sydney)
19Apr2016 Oration,NewcastleBusinessClub,“Access to Justice in Regional New South Wales”(Newcastle)
22Apr2016 Oration,AdmissionofLawyers(BancoCourt,SupremeCourtNSW)
21May2016 Adjudicator,EdWSLSAChampionshipMootCompetitionFinal
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25May2016 Speech,GeneralCounsel1000MeettheRegulators,“The changing landscape of the in-house profession and its influence on legal practice; The relationship between the roles of General Counsels and the Courts; the interdependence of General Counsels, Courts and Regulators”(Sydney)
31May2016 Adjudicator,2016MULSSeniorClientInterviewCompetitionGrandFinal(Sydney)
03Jun2016 OpeningAddress,TheFutureofLawReportingInAustraliaForum2016inconjunctionwiththeConsultativeCouncilofAustralianLawReporting36thannualmeeting(FederalCourtofAustralia)
04Jun2016 Address,CostsAssessorsAnnualSeminar“Costs In Representative Proceedings, Costs Budgeting And Fixed Costs Schemes”(BancoCourt,Sydney)
21Jun2016 Speech,10thInformationGovernance&eDiscoverySummit,“Tweeters, Posters And Grammers Beware: Discovery And Social Media Evidence”(Sydney)
19Jul2016 Oration,LawSocietyofNSWRollofHonour,UnveilingCeremony“The impact of WWI on NSW Judiciary”(Sydney)
27Jul2016 Speech,TheOrderofAustraliaAssociation,AnnualLuncheon(NSWBranch)
04Aug2016 Adjudicator,GrandFinalMootingCompetitionofAustralia’sFirstPeoples2016(BancoCourt,Sydney)
12–15Aug2016 PanelDiscussion,LAWASIASriLanka:Discussing“Judicial Governance”(SriLanka)
26Aug2016 Welcome,SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Craigieburn,Bowral)
02Sep2016 Speech,ACTBarAssociation’sBench&BarDinner,“A Judicial Lament: Obtuse and Obnoxious Judges”(Canberra)
12–16Sep2016 Speech,PacificJudicialConference,“Specialised Courts/Court Tracks, the way to go”(PapuaNewGuinea)
27Sep2016 Briefwelcome,ReceptionhostedbySCTofJapan(Japan)
28Sep2016 Speech,TokyoSeminarhostedbythecommitteeofLAWASIA2017,theTokyoBarAssociation,TheDaiichiTokyoBarAssociationandtheDainiTokyoBarAssociation“Impact of the Trans-Pacific-Partnership on Australian Law”(Japan)
21–22Oct2016 Speech,5thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation:Moderndevelopmentsincommerciallaw&practice,“Meeting challenges posed by modern international commercial litigation”(HongKong)
22Oct2016 ClosingAddress,5thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(HongKong)
25Oct2016 Oration,SilkBowsCeremonyatNSWBarAssociation(Sydney)
26Oct2016 OpeningAddress,4thInternationalArbitrationConference:ArbitrationAware–FinancialMarketDisputes(Sydney)
27–28Oct2016 PanelDiscussion,AustralianBarAssociationandVictorianBar2016NationalConference“National and International Developments of modern litigation and Courts Practice (Rule of Law)”(Melbourne)
08Nov2016 OpeningRemarks,Seminar:OnlineProcedures&ProtocolsinNSWandCthCourts(Sydney)
09Nov2016 Tutorial,LegalHistoryTutorial,“The History of Contracts”(BancoCourt,Sydney)
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10Nov2016 Introduction,RemembranceDay:SCTcommemoratesthesacrificeandserviceoftheNSWLegalProfessionintheWWI(BancoCourt,Sydney)
11Nov2016 Oration,LaunchoftheNSWChapteroftheHellenicAustralianLawyersAssociation
15Nov2016 OpeningAddress,SupremeCourtCommercialAndCorporateLawConference“TheBurgeoningUseOfTrustsInRealEstateAndInfrastructure”(BancoCourt,Sydney)
18Nov2016 OpeningAddress,JusticeResearch“Snapshots”WesternSydneyUniversity(Sydney)
21Nov2016 Speech,SydneyArbitrationWeek,HostedbyKing&WoodMallesonstogetherwithACICA,“Contrast the benefits of International Arbitration with the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC).”(Sydney)
22Nov2016 OpeningAddress,4thInternationalArbitrationConference(FederalCourt,Sydney)
25Nov2016 InauguraltohonourSirJamesMartin(Barangaroo,Sydney)
Publications:
“Illegally or Improperly Obtained Evidence: In Defence of Australia’s Discretionary Approach”,The Judicial Review,September(2016)
“NSW Young Lawyers Civil Litigation Committee ‘Three Contemporary Issues in Civil Litigation: Expert Evidence, Discovery and Alternative Dispute Resolution’”Journal of Civil Litigation and Practice(2016),3JCivLP1
“NSW Young Lawyers Civil Litigation Committee ‘Three Contemporary Issues in Civil Litigation: Expert Evidence, Discovery and Alternative Dispute Resolution’”Australian Construction Law Newsletter(2016)
“2016 Opening of Law Term speech”Judicial Officer’s Bulletin(2016)March
“Three Contemporary Issues in Civil Litigation”,Journal of Civil Litigation and Practice(2016)March
“Illegally or improperly obtained evidence: in defence of Australia’s discretionary approach”Journal of Civil Litigation and Practise(2016)
“Closing Address at Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (Australia) Centenary Conference”,Arbitration – The International Journal of Arbitration, Mediation and Dispute Management,(2016)Vol82,Issue2
ContributiontoAustralian Bar Review,Volume41,Part3
Contributionto“Contract in Commercial Law”,ThomsonReuters
“Costs in representative proceedings, costs budgeting and fixed cost schemes”JudicialCommission
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
President(Chair)oftheJudicialCommissionofNSW
ChairoftheSupremeCourtRuleCommittee
ChairoftheUniformRulesCommittee
Delegations and international assistance:
8Mar2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyDrObaidAlhairiSalemALKETBI,AmbassadoroftheUnitedArabEmirates
16Mar2016 OfficialVisit,HerExcellencyMsHelenaDrnovsekZorko,AmbassadorofSlovenia
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22Mar2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyMrYogeshPunja,HighCommissionerofFiji
10Apr2016 OfficialVisit,MrCaojianming,ProsecutorGeneralofSupremePeople’sProcuratorateofP.R.China
03May2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyMrPaulMaddison,HighCommissioner,CanadianHighCommission
09May2016 HisExcellencyDrObaidAlKetbi,AmbassadoroftheUnitedArabEmirates’,Thedelegation’smaininterestisrelatedtotheprocessoflawdrafting,amendment,governingandmonitoringlawapplication,atbothFederalandLocallevels
12May2016 OfficialVisit,HerExcellencyMsConnieTaracena,AmbassadorofGuatemala
31May2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyMrKaziImtiazHossain,HighCommissionerforBangladesh
17Jun2016 TheChiefJusticeThomasBathurst,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales,AustralianDelegationtoBeijing
22Jun2016 OfficialVisit,MsHelenaDrnovšekZorko,AmbassadoroftheRepublicofSlovenia
19Jul2016 HEMrGUXiaojie,ConsulGeneralofPRChina
22Jul2016 MrMaFengjun,SeniorJudge,HenanHighPeople’sCourt,People’sRepublicofChina,discussingcourtoperationsandroles,legalandcourtsysteminAustralia
09Aug2016 OfficialVisit,MrRimskyYuenSCJP,SecretaryforJusticeoftheGovernmentofHongKongSpecialAdministrativeRegion
10Aug2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyMrMartinPohl,AmbassadoroftheCzechRepublic
28Aug2016 OfficialVisit,HerExcellencyMrsMindaCalaguian-Cruz,AmbassadorofthePhilippines
09Sep2016 OfficialVisit,HEMrKeizoTakewaka,Consul-GeneralofJapan
08Nov2016 AhmedIbrahimSaif,SupremeCourtJudge,ChiefJusticeofCivilCourtofFirstInstance,UAE
17Nov2016 OfficialVisit,HisExcellencyMrMohamedKhairat,AmbassadoroftheArabRepublicofEgypt
22Nov2016 ZhaoChuanLing,VicePresidentofHigherPeople’sCourtofGuiZhouProvince
13Dec2016 ZhenDong,HeadofthemonitoringroomandJudgeatAnhuiHighPeople’sCourtChina.Tolearnaboutcourtoperationsandroles,judgmentprocess,judgeappointmentandmanagementinAustralia.
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BEAZlEY AO, PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAl
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
20May2016 JudgesandtheAcademyConference(Melbourne)
21May2016 CompetitionLawConference(Sydney)
26-27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
09Oct2016 JudicialConferenceofAustraliaColloquium(Canberra)
21Oct2016 8thAIJAAppellateJudges’Conference(Melbourne)
28Oct2016 AustralianBarAssociationandVictorianBarConference(Melbourne)
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Speaking engagements:
8Feb2016 Address:Ceremonial Sitting to Mark the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Establishment of the New South Wales Court of Appeal(Sydney)
26Feb2016 Paper:The Lawyer, the Client and the Court - the Intersection of Ethical Duties,UNSWContinuingLegalEducation(Sydney)
10Mar2016 Address:Gender and the Legal Profession,UNSWLawSociety(Sydney)
17Mar2016 Address:Celebrating Women in the Judiciary,WomenLawyersAssociationofNewSouthWales(Sydney)
29Mar2016 Paper:Recurring Issues in the Court of Appeal,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesAnnualConference(Wollongong)
29Apr2016 Address:Remarks at Dinner to Mark the Retirement of the Hon Justice Annabelle Bennett,AustralianAssociationofWomenJudges(Sydney)
10May2016 Address:Catalyst for Change? Legal Developments and Shifting Society,CityofSydneyLawSocietyLawWeekBreakfast(Sydney)
21Jun2016 Remarks&PanelChair:The Transformation Challenge – Towards a New Model of Public Sector Leadership,PublicSectorForum(Sydney)
22Jul2016 Address:Civil Justice and the Interests of Self-Represented Litigants,LegalAidNSWCivilLawConference(Sydney)
08Aug2016 Address:Occasional Address at 2016 Law Faculty Dinner,StPaul’sCollegeUniversityofSydney(Sydney)
18Aug2016 Address:The Importance of Law Reporting,LaunchoftheVictorianReportsPortalatParliamentHouse(Sydney)
25Aug2016 Address:Launch of the Charles Sturt University Centre for Law and Justice,CharlesSturtUniversity(Bathurst)
25Aug2016 Lecture:Advocacy and Statutory Interpretation,CharlesSturtUniversityCentreforLawandJustice(Bathurst)
02Sep2016 Address:Remarks in Commemoration of Donoghue v Stevenson”NSWBarAssociationCommonLawDrinks(Sydney)
10Sep2016 Paper:Recent Developments in Tendency Evidence,NSWYoungLawyersAnnualOneDayEvidenceCLESeminar(Sydney
10Sep2016 Panel:Experts on Expert Evidence: How to Help Them Help You,NSWYoungLawyersAnnualOneDayEvidenceCLESeminar(Sydney)
22Sep2016 Interview:Case Management in NSW – a Judicial Perspective,BenchmarkTV(broadcastonline6Oct2016)
22Sep2016 Address:Remarks at Closing Session of the Bar Practice Course,NSWBarAssociation(Sydney)
26Sep2016 Address&PanelChair:Hedge Fund Activism Seminar and Book Launch of “Research Handbook on Shareholder Power”,UniversityofSydneyLaw&BusinessSeminarSeries(Sydney)
29Sep2016 Address:Keynote Address at Baker & McKenzie National Intervarsity Women’s Moot Grand Final,SydneyUniversityLawSociety(Sydney)
05Oct2016 Panel:First Annual MacKillop Law Students’ Society Women in Law Breakfast,AustralianCatholicUniversity(Sydney)
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09Oct2016 PanelChair:Well-Being in a Court,JudicialConferenceofAustraliaColloquium(Canberra)
12Oct2016 Paper:10th Annual Whitmore Lecture – Judicial Review & the Shifting Sands of Legal Unreasonableness,CouncilofAustralasianTribunals(Sydney)
18Oct2016 Address:Welcome Remarks & Introduction,AustralianAcademyofLawAnnualPatron’sAddress(Sydney)
21Oct2016 Panel:Judging Judicial Well-Being – Perspectives from the Judicial Conference of Australia,8thAIJAAppellateJudges’Conference(Melbourne)
26Oct2016 Address:Reliable Memoirs,StGeorge-SutherlandRegionalLawSocietyAGM&Dinner(Sydney)
27Oct2016 Address:Opening Remarks at the Future with Blockchain Forum,UNSWContinuingLegalEducation(Sydney)
28Oct2016 Panel:Modern Litigation and the Move Towards a National Profession and National Court,AustralianBarAssociationandVictorianBarConference(Melbourne)
03Nov2016 Address:Remarks at Drinks to Welcome the New Women Silks,WomenBarristers’Forum(Sydney)
15Nov2016 Paper:Trustee Conflicts in Commercial Trusts,SupremeCourtAnnualCommercialandCorporateLawConference(Sydney)
18Nov2016 Paper:Duties to the Court – the Modern Scenario,CentralWestLawSocietyAnnualCLESeminar(Orange)
23Nov2016 Address:BookLaunch,SalimFarrarandGhenaKrayem,“Accommodating Muslims under Common Law”,UniversityofSydney(Sydney)
Publications:
Article:“Institutional Leadership Amongst Equals”(2016)28(7)Judicial Officers Bulletin65
BookChapter:“The Distinctive Role of the Judge – The Least Dangerous Branch of Judgment”,withChrisFrommer,inMichaelLegg(ed)Resolving Civil Disputes(LexisNexisButterworths,2016)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chair,NSWChapter,AustralianInstituteofAdministrativeLaw(Sydney)
Chair,SchoolofLawAdvisoryBoard,TheUniversityofNotreDameAustralia(Sydney)
MemberoftheAdvisoryBoard,CentreforChildrenandYoungPeople,SouthernCrossUniversity(Lismore)
Patron,ToongabbieLegalCentre(Toongabbie)
President,ArtsLawCentreofAustralia(Sydney)
Delegations and international assistance:
11Oct2016 Delegation:DFATInternationalDiplomats(NewZealand,Myanmar,Vanuatu,CambodiaandLaos)
13Oct2016 Officialvisit:HisExcellencyMrVakurGökdenizler,AmbassadoroftheRepublicofTurkey
18Oct2016 Officialvisit:HisExcellencyMrManuelInnocencioDeLacerdaSantosJr,AmbassadorofBrazil
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE McCOll AO
Conferences:
5Mar2016 PersonalInjury/CommonLawConference(Sydney)
26–29May2016 InternationalWomenJudgesConference(WashingtonDC,USA
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
07–09Oct2016 JudicialConferenceofAustraliaColloquium(Canberra)
14Oct2016 SupremeCourtofVictoria–MelbourneUniversityLawSchoolConference(Melbourne)
20–21Oct2016 AppellateJudge’sConference(Melbourne)
Speaking engagements:
5Mar2016 Keynoteaddress–PersonalInjury/CommonLawConference“How Common is The Common Law and Other Miscellany?”
14Oct2016 MelbourneUniversityLawSchoolConference–Speech“Contractual Ambiguity: an Answer in Search of a Question.”
20–21Oct2016 AppellateJudge’sconference–Chairsession5RecentDevelopmentsinContractLaw–theAssessmentofDamages
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BASTEN
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 SupremeCourtandFederalCourtJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
12Feb2016 Gilbert&TobinConstitutionalLawConference(Sydney)
20May2016 JudgesandtheAcademySeminarSeries(Melbourne)
12Aug2016 JudgesandtheAcademySeminarSeries(Melbourne)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(BowralNSW)
12–14Sep2016 CambridgePublicLawConference2016TheUnityofPublicLaw?(UniversityofCambridge,Cambridge,England)
02Dec2016 ANUConstitutionalInterpretationandLegalEducationConference(Canberra)
Speaking Engagements:
2Mar2016 AustralianInstituteofAdministrativeLaw–NSWChapterJudicialReviewInStateJurisdiction(Sydney)
22Mar2016 UniversityofNewSouthWales–KeyInsightsintoCivilLitigationSeminar–TheOverridingPurposeProvisions(Sydney)
Publications:
BookReview–“Public Law Adjudication in Common Law Systems: Process and Substance”–Cambridge Law JournalVol75No3November2016
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Appointments to legal, cultural or ben evolent organisations:
Chair,JudicialCommissionofNSWStandingAdvisoryCommitteeonJudicialEducation
Chair,SupremeCourtEducationCommittee
Member,EditorialBoardofTheJudicialReview,JournaloftheJudicialCommissionofNSW
Member,SupremeCourtCaseLawGovernanceCommittee
Member,UNSWLawFacultyAdvisoryCouncil
Member,LawCourtsLibraryAdvisoryCommittee
Member,AdvisoryCommittee,G&TCentreofPublicLaw
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE MACFARlAN
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Appointments to legal, cultural or ben evolent organisations:
Member,BoardoftheStateRecordsAuthorityofNewSouthWales
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE MEAGHER
Speaking Engagements:
6Oct2016 UNSWIntermediateMootingCompetition:GrandFinalonthetopicofestoppelandcollateralcontract.ChiefJudge.(Ashurstoffices,5MartinPlace,Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
KincoppalRoseBaySchool–BoardMember
SydneySymphonyOrchestra–Non-ExecutiveDirector
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE HOEBEN AM RFD, CHIEF JUDGE AT COMMON lAW
Speaking Engagements:
26Jul2016 WelcomeaddressandadjudicationoftheRonShorterMemorialAward–conductedbytheAustralianInsuranceLawAssociation(AILA)
Appointments to legal, Cultural or Benevolent Organisations:
BoardMemberofRoyalHumaneSocietyofNSW
MemberofSydneyUniversityRegimentalCouncil
Commissions in Other Courts
Jan–Dec2016 HeldCommissionasaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofQueensland
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE WARD
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
27Feb2016 AIJACouncilmeeting(Sydney)
12–15Aug2016 29thLawAsiaConference(Colombo,SriLanka)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
14–15Oct2016 AIJACouncilmeeting(Adelaide)
20–21Oct2016 8thAIJAAppellateJudges’Conference(Melbourne)
Speaking engagements:
26Feb2016 NewcastleAdmissionCeremonyatNewcastleCourtComplex(Newcastle)
2Mar2016 OpeningRemarksattheUNSWCLESeminaratGraceHotel(Sydney)
19–20May2016 KeynoteaddressattheLand&EnvironmentCourtAnnualConference,“The Kilmuir Rules and Masterchef – What is the Connection?”(Bowral)
10Jun2016 SeminarattheCLAJuneJudge’sSeriesatNSWStateLibrary,“Recent developments in Corporations Law”(Sydney)
22Jul2016 GuestSpeakerattheNewcastleBarAssociationAnnualDinneratTheNewcastleClub(Newcastle)
12–15Aug2016 Speakeratthe29thLawAsiaConference,“Court Annexed Mediation Session”(Colombo,SriLanka)
13Aug2016 Judgeatthe11thLawAsiaMootCompetition(Colombo,SriLanka)
26–27Aug2016 CommentatorattheSupremeCourtAnnualConference,“Apprehended Bias Claims”(Bowral)
10Oct2016 WesleyCollegeNetworking&MentorsFormalDinner(Q&ADinner)(WesleyCollege,UniversityofSydney)
13Oct2016 PanellistattheNSWYoungLawyers–CareersPanel(K&LGates,Sydney)
17Oct2016 KeynoteaddressatTheLawSocietyofNSWHistoryBooklaunch“Defending the Rights of All: A History of the Law Society of New South Wales”(ParliamentHouse,Sydney)
18Oct2016 KeynoteaddressattheNSWYoungLawyersYoungJusticeProgram(SupremeCourt,NSW)
22Oct2016 Speechatthe2016AnnualConferenceoftheEnvironmentandPlanningLawAssociation(NSW)Inc,“Recent developments in the Court of Appeal”(MedlowBath,NSW)
27Oct2016 WomenInLawEvent,Paneldiscussions,NotreDameSydneyLawSociety(Broadway,NSW)
11Nov2016 SpeechattheNewcastleGrammarSchool(Newcastle,NSW)
2Dec2016 SpeechattheNCATGuardianshipConference,SalvationArmyConferenceCentre,“Guardianship Tribunal – Capacity”(Sydney)
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Publications:
History of the Law Society of New South Wales–Foreword
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChairoftheSupremeCourtADRSteeringCommittee
MemberandFellowofTheAustralianAcademyofLaw
MemberoftheAIJACouncil
Delegations and International Assistance:
26Sep–1Oct2016
Discussionsforthepreparationforthe17thConferenceofChiefJusticesofAsia&ThePacific(Tokyo,Japan)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE GlEESON
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral)
20–22Oct2016 FifthJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(HongKong)
Speaking engagements:
17Jun2016 CommercialLawAssociationofAustralia–JuneJudges’Series–“Enforceability of Contracts”(NSWStateLibrary)
22Oct2016 FifthJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(HongKong)–Session4:Cross-BorderInsolvency–panelmember
2016 Casuallecturer,UniversityofSydney,FacultyofLaw,MastersofLawcourse–“Controlling Liability by Contract”
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberofTechnicalProgrammeCommitteeoftheTenthQuadrennialCongressofINSOL2017(Sydney)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE lEEMING
Conferences:
15–16Aug2016 “Equity and Law: Fusion and Fission”StCatherine’sCollege,UniversityofCambridge(UK)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral)
7Sep2016 “The Role of the Solicitor General”(UniversityofNewSouthWales)
9Sep2016 “Taking Common Law Concepts Seriously”(UTSPrivateLawDiscussionGroup)
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Speaking engagements:
3Aug2016 LandandEnvironmentCourtSeminar–AppealsfromtheLandandEnvironmentCourt(Sydney)
15Aug2016 “Fusion – Fission – Fusion – Pre-Judicature Equity Jurisdiction in New South Wales1824-1972”(StCatherine’sCollege,UniversityofCambridge,UK)
28Sep2016 LaunchofHoltPrizewinners(UniversityofMelbourneLawSchool)
Jul–Nov2016 Equity(seriesof20undergraduatelectures,FacultyofLaw,UniversityofSydney)
Publications:
“Proprietary Relief and Tracing in Equity”(2016)90ALJ92
“The Primary Judge in Equity”(2016)90ALJ783
Jacobs Law of Trusts in Australia(8thed,LexisNexis),withJDHeydon
“Equity and statute – a commentary”inPTurner(ed),EquityandAdministration(CambridgeUniversityPress,2016)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChallisLecturerinEquity,UniversityofSydney
Honourssupervisor,UniversityofSydney(TMcClintock)
Director,TheFederationPressPtyLtd
EditorialBoardmember:AustralianBarReview,JournalofEquity
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE SIMPSON
Conferences:
26-27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral)
Speaking engagements:
27Aug2016 PanelSession–SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference“Tendency Evidence”(Bowral)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberoftheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoardExaminationsCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE PAYNE
Speaking engagements:
2016 JudgeofMootingcompetitionsatUNSWandUSYD
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
BoardmemberofLPAB
MemberoftheNSWSupremeCourtEducationCommittee
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE WHITE
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
11May2016 IntroductorySpeech–BarPracticeCourse
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
SupremeCourtRulesCommittee
LawAdmissionsConsultativeCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE JOHNSON
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Publications:
JointauthorwiththeHonRNHowieQCofloose-leafserviceCriminal Practice and Procedure(NSW),Sydney.
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Part-timeCommissioner,NewSouthWalesLawReformCommission(Sydney)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE ROTHMAN AM
Conferences:
24–29Jan2016 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
16Mar2016 NSWJudicialCommission–TwilightSeminar:“The Role of NCAT”[JusticeWright](Sydney)
25May2016 NSWJudicialCommission–NgaraYuraTwilightSeminar:“Who Speaks for Country”[MrNormanLaing,ActingCommissioneroftheLandandEnvironmentCourt,andMsKellyanneStanford,WaratahPartners](Sydney)
3Jun2016 CouncilofLawReportingDemonstration
20Jun2016 YoungMuslimLegalNetworkIftar
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
6Oct2016 NSWJudicialCommission–NgaraYuraProgramSeminar:“Aboriginal trauma, Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and the juvenile justice system”[JuneOscarAOandHerHonourJudgeDinaYehiaSC](Sydney)
8–9Oct2016 JCAColloquium(Canberra)
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19Oct2016 NSWJudicialCommission–NgaraYuraProgramSeminar:“Tribal Warrior and the Clean Slate without Prejudice”[Presentedby:SuperintendentLukeFreudensteinAPM,RedfernLocalAreaCommandandIndigenousleaderShanePhillips,CEO,TribalWarriorandAustralia’sLocalHero2013/Chair:JudgeDinaYehiaSC](Sydney)
22Nov2016 TheJamesSpigelmanOration:“Judicial Legitimacy and the limits of Review”[JusticeBellAC](Sydney)
Speaking engagements:
21Feb2016 Address:“Cases of interest & Court Structure in Australia”–B’NaiB’rithAnti-DefamationLeague(Sydney)
11Mar2016 Speech:“Judicial Review of Administrative Decisions”–AustralianLawyersAllianceNSWStateConference(Sydney)
4Aug2016 Chair:“Understanding transgenerational trauma in Aboriginal communities”–NSWJudicialCommission–NgaraYuraJointSeminar(Sydney)
29Oct2016 Address:“Whipping Two Dead Horses – Good Faith and the Corporations Power Revisited”–ToongabbieLegalCentreIncEmploymentLawSeminar
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
President–TheGreatSynagogue(Sydney)
Director;BoardMember&ChairWorkplaceRelationsCommittee–NSWAssociationofIndependentSchools
HonoraryLifeMember;ExecutiveMember–NSWJewishBoardofDeputies
Co-Chair–AustralianCouncilofJewishSchools
Chair–OrganisingCommitteeoftheJointSupremeCourt/FederalCourtJudges’Conference
Chair–NgaraYuraCommitteeofJudicialCommissionofNSW
BoardMember–InternationalAssociationofJewishLawyersandJurists
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BRERETON AM RFD
Conferences:
28–29Jan2016 InternationalConferenceonCourtExcellence(Singapore)
17–19Jun2016 LawCouncilofAustralia,CorporationsWorkshop(HiltonHotel,SurfersParadise)
Speaking engagements:
22Mar2016 Speaker,NewBarristers’CommitteeContinuingProfessionalDevelopment,“Appearing in Duty Matters”(BarAssociationCommonRoom,Sydney)
23Mar2016 OpeningAddress,UNSWCLE,Wills,EstatesandInheritanceDisputesSeminar(GraceHotel,Sydney)
8Apr2016 Speaker,Children’sCourtofNSWMeeting,“Children’s Issues in the Supreme Court”(JudicialCommissionConferenceRoom,Sydney)
26Apr2016 Speaker,UNSWCLE,EquitySeminar“Practice and Procedure Before the Duty Judge in Equity”
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4May2016 Speaker,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesTwilightSeminarSeries,“Costs Appeals and Costs Orders”(JohnMaddisonTower,Sydney)
1Jun2016 Speaker,ARITANationalConference“A Judicial Perspective”(SheratononthePark,Sydney)
12Aug2016 Speaker,SpecialistAccreditationConference“Restraints of Trade”(SebelResort&Spa,Windsor)
10Nov2016 Speaker,OntheEveofRemembranceDay,TheSupremeCourtcommemoratesthesacrificeandserviceoftheNewSouthWalesLegalProfessionintheFirstWorldWar,“Lieutenant General J G Legge”(BancoCourt,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales,Sydney)
15Nov2016 Speaker,SupremeCourtandCorporateLawConference“The Commercial Trust in the Courts”(BancoCourt,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales,Sydney)
Publications:
“Costs Assessment Appeals and Costs Orders”,JudicialOfficersBulletin(2016)Vol.28No.6
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
DeputyChair,NSWLawReformCommission
ChairmanofTrustees,LeycesterMearesBequest
Chair,CostsAssessmentRulesCommittee
Chair,CostsAssessmentUserGroup
Chair,AdoptionsListUserGroup
Chair,CorporationsListUserGroup
Member,LawExtensionCommittee
Member,HarmonisationofRulesCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE HAMMERSCHlAG
Conferences:
29–30Jun2016 London2016InternationalCommercialLawConference(London,England)
Speaking engagements:
6Feb2016 57thArmidaleCLEConference(Armidale)
3Mar2016 OpeningRemarksattheUNSWCLESeminaronBuildingLaw(GraceHotel,Sydney)
22Mar2016 NSWYoungLawyersInternationalLawCommitteeCLEevent(LawSocietyofNSW,Sydney)
10May2016 UniversityofSydneySirJohnPedenContractLawMoot(Sydney)
26May2016 LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesCommercialLawForum(LawSocietyofNewSouthWales,Sydney)
2Jun2016 ClaytonUtzSeniorMootingGrandFinalCompetition(LawCourts,Sydney)
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26Jul2016 AustralianConstructionLawDiscussionGroup(Sydney)
28Jul2016 SocietyofConstructionLawAustralia–“Quantifying loss caused by disruption – why use the measured mile?”–Introductoryoverview(Sydney)
19Aug2016 InformaladdresstotheCommercialDisputeResolutioncourseoftheUniversityofSydney(Sydney)
24Aug2016 AILASeminar“Conclaves and Hot Tubs: Success or Failure – An Overview”(Sydney)
7Sep2016 SoCLAPanelDiscussion:TheFutureofADRinConstruction(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chairman–CommercialandTechnology&ConstructionUsersGroup
MemberoftheHarmonisationCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE HARRISON
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
29Mar2016 2016DistrictCourtAnnualConference–DinnerAddress(Wollongong)
20May2016 SpecialistLegalConference2016–Presentationon“Preparation and preparedness: The keys to managing a successful case”(ManlyPacificHotel)
28Jul2016 AnnualJudicialQ&A–NSWBarAssociation–PanelofJudges(PhillipStreet,Sydney)
08Aug2016 CollegeofLawSynergySeries–“Practice & Procedure: The expectation from the bench of Personal Injury Lawyers”(ElizabethStreet,Sydney)
4Nov2016 ClaimsDiscussionGroupAnnualChristmasLunch–“It’s better to be born lucky than rich”(SydneyOperaHouseMarquee)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE FUllERTON
Speaking engagements:
3Mar2016 Welcome–SpectrumatAshurst–“The Importance of Diversity”(Sydney)
21Mar2016 PresidingJudge–NewBarrister’sCommitteeoftheNSWBarAssociation–CrossExaminationWorkshop(Sydney)
26Oct2016 Chair–NewBarristers’CommitteeoftheNSWBarAssociation–Seminar:“The Preparation of Appeals to the Court of Criminal Appeal”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
BoardMember–CityRecitalHall
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE REIN
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
15Nov2016 AnnualCommercialandCorporateLawConference(BancoCourt)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE RA HUlME
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
22–23Feb2016 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
29Mar2016 DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesAnnualConference–CourtofCriminalAppealReview
1Jun2016 LocalCourtofNewSouthWalesAnnualConference–CriminalLawUpdate
26Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualConference–DevelopmentsinCriminalLaw
Publications:
Co-authorCriminal Law News,LexisNexisButterworths
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CourtofCriminalAppealListJudge
Member,JuryTaskForce
Member,JudicialCommissionofNSWCriminalTrialBenchBookCommittee
Member,CaseLawGovernanceCommittee
Member,JusticeLinkCommittee
Member,CourtofCriminalAppeal/CrimeUsersGroup
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE SlATTERY
Conferences:
24–29Jan2016 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
19Mar2016 ReserveLegalOfficersNationalHeadsofPanelConference–MilitaryLawCentre–VictoriaBarracks,Paddington,Sydney
7–8May2016 NewSouthWalesNavyReserveLegalPanelAnnualConference–HMASCreswell(JervisBay)
12Aug2016 RoyalAustralianNavy–SeniorLeadershipGroupConferencehostedbyViceAdmiralT.Barrett,ChiefofNavy–Canberra
26Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral)
18–19Nov2016 AustralianDefenceForce–JudgeAdvocateGeneral’sConference(Canberra)
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Speaking engagements:
20Feb2016 AustralianDefenceForce–JudgeAdvocateGeneral,SpeechtoReserveLegalOfficersNationalHeadsofPanelConference,“ReformstoMilitaryJustice”.
22Mar2016 RoyalAustralianAirForceLegalWorkshopConferenceDinnerSpeech–“Remembering Air Vice Marshall Michael Helsham DFC, AM”.
25Apr2016 AustralianDefenceForce–JudgeAdvocateGeneral,ANZACDayCommemorativeAddress–Armidale,NewSouthWales
7May2016 “The Importance of Military Justice to the Effectiveness of the Australian Defence Force”,AddresstoNSWandACTNavyReserveLegalPanelsatHMASCresswell,JervisBay
18Oct2016 “The Role of the Judge Advocate General and Reforms to Military Justice”,addresstotheNorthernTerritoryTriServiceReserveLegalPanelTrainingSeminar,atHMASCoonawarra,Darwin
19Oct2016 “The Role of the Judge Advocate General and Reforms to Military Justice”,addresstotheTownsvilleTriServiceReserveLegalPanelTrainingSeminar,atLavarackBarracks,Townsville
08Nov2016 “The Role of the Judge Advocate General and Reforms to Military Justice”,addresstotheTasmanianTriServiceReserveLegalPanelTrainingSeminar,atAngleSeaBarracks,Hobart
10Nov2016 SupremeCourt’sRemembranceDayEveCommemoration–“Colonel Henry MacLaurin – Soldier and Barrister”
09Dec2016 AdelaideTri-ServiceDinner,afterDinnerspeech“Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC – Lawyer and Hero of Two World Wars”
Publications:
ReportoftheJudgeAdvocateGeneraloftheAustralianDefenceForcetotheAustralianParliamentfortheperiod1Januaryto31December2015.
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
JudgeAdvocateGeneraloftheAustralianDefenceForcefrom14May2015
TrusteeoftheIndigenousBarristersTrust–theMumShirlFund
Delegations and International Assistance:
25Aug2016 DelegationofADFJudgeAdvocateGeneralpersonneltoreceiveinCanberraadelegationofLegalOfficersfromtheOfficeoftheJudgeAdvocateGeneralofCanadatodiscusscomparativereformstotheAustralianandCanadianMilitaryJusticeSystems.
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE DAVIES
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
DeputyPresidingMember–LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE SCHMIDT
Conferences:
16Mar2016 TwilightSeminar:TheRoleofNCAT(Sydney)
20Apr2016 TwilightSeminar:InmateClassification,PlacementandCaseManagement(Sydney)
25May2016 RoyalCommissionintoInstitutionalResponsestoChildSexualAbuse–LaunchofResearchintoJuryReasoninginJointandSeparateTrailsofChildSexualAbuse,ParliamentHouse,(Sydney)
4Oct2016 TheInauguralMasonConversationwithSirAnthonyMason(Sydney)
6Oct2016 JointInitiativeoftheNSWJudicialCommissionNgaraYuraCommittee,TheNSWBarAssociationIndigenousBarristers’StrategyWorkingPartyandtheLawSocietyofNSWIndigenousIssuesCommittee:Aboriginaltrauma,FoetalAlcoholSpectrumDisorderandtheJuvenileJusticeSystemSeminar(Sydney)
12Oct2016 The10thAnnualWhitmoreLecture“Judicial Review & The Shifting Sands of Legal Unreasonableness”FederalCourtofAustralia(Sydney)
17Oct2016 TheLawSocietyofNewSouthWalesBookLaunchofDefendingtheRightsofAll(Sydney)
9Nov2016 TwilightSeminar:ParoleandtheStateParoleAuthority(Sydney)
10Nov2016 SCTRemembranceDay,BancoCourt(Sydney)
11Nov2016 LaunchofNewSouthWalesChapterofHellenicAustralianLawyersAssociation(HAL)(Sydney)
24Nov2016 SupremeCourtJudgestourofHMASCanberra(Sydney)
Speaking engagements:
21–26Feb2016 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SA)
21–23Mar2016 NationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaJudgmentWriting(CanberraACT)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChairoftheNationalJudicialOrientationProgram
MemberoftheAdvisoryBoardfortheMasterofLabourLawandRelations(MLLR),SydneyLawSchool
Member,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaPlanningCommitteeforDialoguesonBeingaJudge
Member,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaPlanningCommitteeforJudgmentWriting
Member,SupremeCourtEducationCommittee
Member,SupremeCourtRemunerationCommittee
Member,CLEforRegistrars
Delegations and International Assistance:
11Mar2016 VisitbyjudicialdelegationledbyAssistantJudgeTakuOkada,SakaiBranchofOsakaDistrictandFamilyCourts
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BAll
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
5May2016 SeminaronCommercialList,EquityDivisionpresentedwithJusticeHammerschlagandJusticeMcDougall(SupremeCourtofNSW)
Publications:
“Principles of Insurance Law”,LexisNexis,co-authoredwithDavidStLedgerKelly
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE GARlING RFD
Conferences:
20Apr2016 InmateClassification,PlacementandCaseManagement
9Nov2016 ParoleandtheStateParoleAuthority
Speaking engagements:
6May2016 UniversityofSydney–LawGraduationaddress
18May2016 NSWBarAssociation–BarPracticeCourts–ConcurrentExpertEvidence
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CivilTrialsBenchBookCommittee,JudicialCommissionofNSW
SupremeCourtEducationCommittee
Chair,SupremeCourtITCommittee
CommonLawUsersGroup
Chair,LoretoMinistriesLtd
Chair,NSWRugbyUnionAppealsTribunal
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BlACK
Conferences:
18–19Jun2016 BusinessLawSection,LawCouncilofAustralia,CorporationsWorkshop,(GoldCoast,Queensland)
28–29Aug2016 Banking&FinancialLawAssociationConference(Queenstown,NewZealand).
Oct2016 JudicialInsolvencyNetworkConference(Singapore).
Speaking engagements:
26Apr2016 CommercialEquitySeminar,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales.
10May2016 EquitableandStatutoryRegulationofConflictsofInterestsandDuty–PresentationatUniversityofNSWLawSchool
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18Jun2016 UnfinishedBusinessinCorporationsLawReform–BLSCorporationsWorkshop
Aug2016 ThreerecentdevelopmentsininsolvencyLaw–LawCouncilofAustralia/FederalCourtofAustraliaCorporationLawConference
29Aug2016 JudicialCaseLawUpdate–Australia–PresentationatBanking&FinancialServicesLawAssociationConference
26Sep2016 PresentationatHedgeFundActivismSeminarandBookLaunchofResearchHandbookonShareholderPower,UniversityofSydneyLawSchool
Oct2016 Severalissuesininsolvencylawreform–theAustralianperspective–presentationforJudicialInsolvencyNetworkConferenceSingapore
26Oct2016 DevelopmentofCorporationsLaw–presentationatFrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistory,IntroductiontoAustralianLegalHistoryTutorials
2016 Taughtcourseinfinancialservicesregulation,Semester1,2016,UniversityofSydney.
Publications:
Jointauthor,Securities and Financial Services Law,9thed,LexisNexis,2016
JointAuthor,Austin & Black’s Annotations to the Corporations Act,LexisNexis
Contributor,Australian Corporation Law: Principles and Practice,LexisNexis
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
AdjunctProfessor,FacultyofLaw,UniversityofSydney
VisitingFellow,FacultyofLaw,UniversityofNewSouthWales
Fellow,AustralianAcademyofLaw
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE ADAMSON
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
7–9Oct2016 JCAConference(Canberra)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Member,RuleCommittee
Member,UniformRulesCommittee
Chairperson,LegalQualificationsCommittee
Member,NSWLRLiaisonCommittee
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BEllEW
Conferences:
12Mar2016 CPD
22Mar2016 BarAssociationMCLEConference
20Jun2016 MagistratesConference
27Aug2016 EasternSuburbsLawSocietyAnnualConference
Speaking engagements:
4May2016 LawSocietyofNSW
24May2016 NotreDameUniversitySydney
20Jun2016 MagistratesConference
27Aug2016 EasternSuburbsLawSocietyAnnualConference
03Nov2016 NotreDameUniversitySydney
Publications:
Ritchies Uniform Civil Procedure(NSW)–Author
Uniform Australian Evidence–Author
Court Forms, Precedents and Pleadings–Contributor
Federal Civil Litigation Precedents–Contributor
Halsbury’s Laws of Australia–Contributor
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chairman–JudiciaryPanel,NationalRugbyLeague
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE STEVENSON
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 Supreme&FederalCourtJudges’Conference(Brisbane,QLD)
21–23Mar2016 WritingBetterJudgmentsProgram,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia(shadowpresenter)(CanberraACT)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
21–22Oct2016 FifthJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(HongKong)
Speaking engagements:
19Mar2016 KeynoteaddressatCPDConference,“Practice & Procedure in the Duty, Commercial & Expedition Lists”(SydneyNSW)
29Jul–5Aug2016
KeynoteaddressatCPEConferences–NorthSouthLegalConference,“Fraud in the modern age; recovery of mistaken payments – an Australian perspective”(Stockholm,Sweden)
19Mar2016 KeynoteaddressatCPDConference,“Practice&ProcedureintheDuty,Commercial&ExpeditionLists”(SydneyNSW)
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BEECH-JONES
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
07–09Oct2016 JCAConference(Canberra)
Speaking engagements:
27Aug2016 SupremeCourtConference“Issues in relation to tendency and coincidence evidence”(Bowral)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
VicePresidentoftheJudicialConferenceofAustralia(toOctober2016)
PresidentoftheJudicialConferenceofAustralia(fromOctober2016)
MemberoftheSupremeCourtInformationTechnologyCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE CAMPBEll
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
12Aug2016 SpecialistAccreditationConference–Windsor
1Sep2016 TalktoschoolstudentsfromSydneyTechnicalHigh
13Oct2016 TalktoschoolstudentsfromWestWyalongHighandMcCarthyCatholicCollege
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE BUTTON
Conferences:
6–7Feb2016 SentencingConference(AustralianNationalUniversity)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE lINDSAY
Conferences:
16Mar2016 TheRoleofNCATSeminar(SupremeCourtofNSW)
29–30Jul2016 CEWBeanConference(ADFA,Canberra)
4Aug2016 JudicialCommissionSeminaronAboriginalTransgenerationalTrauma
12Aug2016 AustralasianLawyersSocietySeminar–JusticePembroke(165MacquarieStreet)
10Sep2016 BarSoccerConference(Brisbane)
17–18Sep2016 BlueMountainsLawSocietySuccessionConference(HydroMajesticHotel,MedlowBath)
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19Oct2016 JudicialCommissionNgaraYuraProgramme“CleanSlateWithoutPrejudiceProgramme”Seminar(GeorgeStreet,Sydney)
4Nov2016 QueenslandLawSociety,SuccessionandElderLawResidential2016(SurfersParadise)
19Nov2016 JudicialCommissionMuruMittigarAboriginalCultural&EducationCentreEvent(MuruMittigarCentre,Penrith)
Speaking engagements:
22Mar2016 UNSWCLESeminar,DeliveredOpeningRemarks
20Apr2016 UNSWWarraneCollegeGuestSpeaker
15Sep2016 Delivered“Rule of Law”talktosecondarystudents
25Oct2016 AdvancedWillsandEstatesDayDeliveredspeech(CollegeofLaw)
4–5Nov2016 QueenslandLawSociety,SuccessionandElderLawResidential2016,Deliveredspeech
9Nov2016 LawSocietyofNSW,LegallyAssessingMentalCapacity–ElderAbuseQuestionandAnswerSession
10Nov2016 SupremeCourtRemembranceDayEvent:SpeechonCEWBean
16Nov2016 LRundle&CoSTEPNSW“The Literary Executor”Address
23Nov2016 InternationalLawAssociation/12WentworthChambers,TheUncitralModelLawonArbitration–AmodelforlegalconvergenceintheAsiaPacific,CommentaryonpresentationbyMichaelHwangSC(12WentworthChambers)
Late2016 LexisNexis,SmartLaw–theevolvinglegaltechlandscape,paneldiscussion
Publications:
Editor,Australian Bar Review(LexisNexis)
Co-Editor,NSW Civil Practice & Procedure(ThomsonReuters)
ConsultantEditor,NSW Conveyancing Law & Practice(CCH)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
FrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistory(Councillor)
NSWLawReportingLiaisonCommittee
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE HAllEN
Conferences:
26-27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
16Sep2016 BlueMountainLawSocietySuccessionConference
Speaking engagements:
23Mar2016 Speech–CollegeofLawWillsandEstatesConference
24Nov2016 Speech–SuccessionLawSeminarforUNSW
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Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember–STEPAustralia
CommitteeMember–ADRSteeringCommittee
CommitteeMember–Wills&EstatesAdvisoryCommittee
CommitteeMember–CollegeofLaw
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE KUNC
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 Supreme&FederalCourtsJudges’Conference2016(Brisbane)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
7–10Oct2016 JudicialConferenceofAustraliaColloquium2016(Canberra)
22Oct2016 EnvironmentandPlanningLawAssociation2016AnnualConference(MedlowBath)
Speaking engagements:
18Feb2016 The2016BarryO’KeefeMemorialLecture,AustralianCatholicUniversity,NorthSydney
9Mar2016 RuleofLawInstitute–LawDayOutProgram–speechto36studentsfromStPatrick’sSutherland
23Mar2016 Professionalethics,CourtetiquetteandwitnesspreparationCommunicationswithchambersandminimisinginterlocutoryapplications–11thFloorWentworthChambersCPDlecture
8Jun2016 RuleofLawInstitute–LawDayOutProgram–speechto19studentsfromMurwillumbahHigh
22Oct2016 Section88KEasements–HowMuchDiscretionReally?EnvironmentandPlanningLawAssociation2016AnnualConference
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Editor,JournalofEquity
Chairperson,LayneBeachleyAimfortheStarsFoundation
Director,OperaAustraliaCapitalFund
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE ROBB
Conferences:
23–27Jan2016 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudges’Conference(Brisbane)
Speaking engagements:
20May2016 TheCollegeofLaw:SpecialistLegalConference-OpeningKeynote:“Real Property Matters; Expectations of the court and observations from the bench”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember,LegalQualificationsCommittee,LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE DARKE
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
20Jul2016 PresentationconcerningRealPropertyList,BancoCourt
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard,ExaminationsCommittee
Editor,ButterworthsPropertyReports
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE WRIGHT
Conferences:
26Aug2016 NSWCOATConference
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
17–18Oct2016 AGACNationalConference
Speaking engagements:
16Mar2016 Speaker–SupremeCourtJudges’TwilightSeminar–NCATandrelationshipwithSupremeCourtandrelatedbodies,scopeofappealsandreviewinthesupervisoryjurisdiction
12Aug2016 Speaker–ResolutionInstitute(NewcastleChapter)–ANewApproachtoCivilDisputes
14Dec2016 PanelMember–ATODisputeResolutionWorkshop–Q&Apaneldisputesexperienceacrossjurisdictions
Delegations and International Assistance:
1Apr2016 DelegationfromQCAT–meetingwithJusticeCarmody
1Jun2016 DelegationfromMinistryofHousing,SaudiArabia–meetingwithMrMohammedBinMoammar(AdvisortotheMinister&HeadofHOA),MrMohammadAlbuty(AdvisortotheMinister&HeadofEJARIProgam),MrRayidRijraji(DirectorTitling&Subdivision),MrTurkiAljabaa(DirectorAssetManagement)andMrSushantaMohapatra(PrincipalConsultantStrategy)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE WIlSON
Speaking engagements:
19May2016 Seminar–AnnualConferenceoftheLandandEnvironmentCourt,BowralNSW“Some Interesting Recent Developments in the Criminal Law”
7Oct2016 Keynoteaddress–UniversityofNewcastleLawStudents’AssociationBreakfastSeminar–“Mental Health and the Law”
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THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE FAGAN
Conferences:
21–26Feb2016 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SA)
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
THE HONOURABlE JUSTICE NATAlIE ADAMS
Conferences:
26–27Aug2016 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
29Jul2016 Guestspeaker:NSWBarAssociation–TutorsandReadersDinner(Sydney)
21Oct2016 NSWBarAssociationFemaleStudentsOpenDay
23Nov2016 RuleofLawInstituteofAustraliaLawDayOutEducationProgram
19Dec2016 KeynotespeakerOfficeoftheDirectorofPublicProsecutionsAnnualSolicitor’sConference,“Ten things I know now that I wished I knew then”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember–LegalQualificationsCommittee,LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
FocusGroup–StudyonDeafJurors,researchprojectconductedbySandraHale,ProfessorofInterpretingandTranslationattheUniversityofNewSouthWales(participant)
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Supreme Court of New South Wales
Law Courts buildingQueens Square184 Phillip StreetSydney NSW 2000Australia
GPO box 3Sydney NSW 2001Australia
dX 829 Sydney
Email: [email protected]: www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au
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