supreme court of new south wales
TRANSCRIPT
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CONTENTS
Foreword by Chief Justice of New South Wales, the Honourable T F 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 10 –Retirements 11 –TheAssociateJudges 11 –TheRegistrars 11• SupportingtheCourt:theRegistry 13
2 Caseflow Management 14• Overviewbyjurisdiction 15• RegionalsittingsoftheCourt 21• Alternativedisputeresolution 21
3 Court Operations 23• Overviewofoperationsbyjurisdiction 24• Timeliness 31 –Measurementagainstbenchmarks 31 –Listingdelays 32• Useofalternativedisputeresolution 33
4 Education and Public Information 34• Judicialofficereducation 35• Publiceducationprogramme 36• TheroleoftheMediaManager 37
5 Other Aspects of the Court’s work 39• 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,appointmentsto 69
legalandculturalorganisations,delegationsandinternationalassistance,andcommissionsinoverseascourts
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FOREWORD BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Itismypleasuretopresentthe2019AnnualReviewoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales.ItisessentialfortheruleoflawinourdemocraticsocietythattheCourtcontinuestomaintaintheconfidenceofthepeopleofNewSouthWales.ThisReviewisanimportantresourceinthispursuitasitprovidesatransparentandcomprehensiveoverviewofthestructure,operationandactivitiesoftheCourt.Thisenablesthepublictoseeandscrutinisehowjusticeisadministeredinthestate’ssuperiorcourtofrecord.
TheSupremeCourthasanoverridingobligationtofacilitatethejust,quickandcheapresolutionofdisputes.ThisReviewdemonstratesthatithasbeenanotherbusyyearfortheCourtasitdischargesthisobligation.
ItispleasingtoseetheCourt’sperformancein2019againstnationalbenchmarks.Thepercentageofcaseslessthan12monthsoldremainedsteadyinexceedingthenationalstandardintheCourtofAppealat93%ofcasesandintheCourtofCriminalAppealat97%.DespitethenumberofpendingcasesintheCommonLawDivisionincreasingby11%in2019,thepercentageofcivilcasesintheCommonLawDivisionlessthan12monthsoldremainedfairlyconsistentat68%.Similarly,InotethatwhilsttheageprofileofpendingcasesintheEquityDivisionworsenedslightlyat65%ofcasesbeinglessthan12monthsold(from67%in2018),thenumberoffilingsintheEquityDivisionincreasedby3%.ThisincreaseinthenumberoffilingsparticularlyreflectsthenotableincreaseinthenumberoffilingsintheCorporationsListby40%.
TheSupremeCourtcontinuestosupportmediationasamethodofalternativedisputeresolutionforcivilproceedings.Thisisdemonstratedinthecontinuedincreaseintherateofreferringcasestomediation.In2019therewere1,407referrals,a20%increasefromthe1,169referralsin2018.
ThenewPracticeNotefortheBailsListcommencedinJune2019.SincetheintroductionofthePracticeNote,thelistingdelayforbailapplicationshasbecomemarkedlylessvolatile.Ofnote,duringthefinalthreemonthsof2019,thewithdrawalrateforBailsListapplicationswas18%,asignificantreductionfromtherateduringthesameperiodin2018(68%).
Ofcourse,thestatisticsinthisReviewonlyrevealsomuch.Itisimportanttorememberthatthesefiguresdonot,andcannotreflectthequalityofthejusticeadministeredin2019bytheCourt’sjudicialofficersandregistrars.NordothesefiguresrevealthebreadthorcomplexityoftheworkundertakenbytheCourtasthesuperiorcourtofNewSouthWales.
2019broughtwithitaconsiderablenumberofnewappointments.Inmyforewordlastyear,IwelcomedJusticeAndrewBell,whowasappointedasthePresidentoftheCourtofAppealinJanuaryaftertheappointmentoftheformerPresident,JusticeMargaretBeazley,asGovernorofNewSouthWales.IamalsoverypleasedtowelcomeJusticesPatriciaHenry,MarkIeraceandRichardCavanaghwhowerealsoappointedtotheSupremeCourtin2019.IamconfidentthatthecalibreoftheseappointmentswillenabletheCourttocontinueitsexcellenceinfacilitatingtheresolutionofdisputesinourstate.
Finally,IexpressmysincerethanksandgratitudeforthesupportandhardworkofmycolleaguesandthestaffoftheSupremeCourtduring2019.ThisReviewistestamenttotheircommitmenttodeliveringthehighestlevelsofservicetothepeopleofNewSouthWales.
The Hon T F 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 COURT’S JURISDICTION AND DIVISIONS
The Supreme Court of New South Wales: our place in the court systemThecourtsysteminNewSouthWalesisstructuredonahierarchicalbasis.TheSupremeCourtisthesuperiorcourtofrecordinNewSouthWalesand,assuch,hasaninherentjurisdictioninadditiontoitsspecificstatutoryjurisdiction.
TheSupremeCourthasappellateandtrialjurisdictions.Theappellatecourtsarethe:
• CourtofAppeal• CourtofCriminalAppeal.
ThetrialworkofthecriminalandciviljurisdictionsisdividedbetweentwoDivisions:
• CommonLawDivision• EquityDivision.
Thisstructurefacilitatestheconvenientdispatchofbusinessinaccordancewiththeprovisionsundersection38oftheSupreme Court Act 1970.
Section23oftheSupreme Court Act 1970providestheCourtwithalljurisdictionnecessaryfortheadministrationofjusticeinNewSouthWales.TheSupremeCourthassupervisoryjurisdictionoverothercourtsandtribunalsintheState.TheCourtgenerallyexercisesthissupervisoryjurisdictionthroughitsappellatecourts.
TheLandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesisaspecialistcourtofstatutoryjurisdiction.TheJudgesofthiscourthavethestatusofSupremeCourtJudges.
TheDistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesisanintermediatecourt,anditsjurisdictionisdeterminedbystatute.TheLocalCourtofNewSouthWalessitsatthebaseofthehierarchyofNewSouthWalescourtsandhasbroadcriminalandciviljurisdictions.
TheNSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal(NCAT)wasestablishedbytheCivil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013.TheNCATisthesinglepointofaccessforspecialisttribunalservicesinNSW,consolidatingtheworkof22formertribunals.Thereare4divisionsoftheNCAT:theAdministrativeandEqualOpportunityDivision,theConsumerandCommercialDivision,theGuardianshipDivisionandtheOccupationalDivision.
Figures1.1and1.2illustratethecourthierarchyinNewSouthWalesandthegatewaystoappealinthecriminalandciviljurisdictions.
Court of AppealTheCourtofAppealisresponsibleforhearingappealsincivilmattersagainstthedecisionsofthejudicialofficersoftheSupremeCourt,othercourts,commissionsandtribunalswithintheState,asprescribedintheSupreme Court Act 1970.
Court of Criminal AppealTheCourtofCriminalAppealhearsappealsfromcriminalproceedingsintheSupremeCourt,theLandandEnvironmentCourt,theDistrictCourtandtheDrugCourt.Appealsmaychallengeconvictionsandsentencesimposeduponindictmentorinthetrialcourt’ssummaryjurisdiction,orinterlocutoryordersmadebythetrialcourt.AppealsfromcommittalproceedingsintheLocalCourtmayalsobeheardincertaincircumstances.
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SittingsoftheCourtofCriminalAppealareorganisedonarosterbasis,takingintoaccounttheotherregularjudicialdutiesandcommitmentsoftheJudgeswhoformtheCourt’sbench.TheJudgeswhositintheCourtofCriminalAppealaretheChiefJustice,thePresident,theJudgesoftheCourtofAppeal,theChiefJudgeatCommonLawandJudgesoftheCommonLawDivision.During2019,mostbenchesintheCourtofCriminalAppealcomprisedatleasttwoCommonLawJudges,withthepresidingJudgebeingtheChiefJustice,thePresident,aJudgeofAppeal,ortheChiefJudgeatCommonLaw.
TheCourtofCriminalAppealListJudgethroughout2019wasJusticeRAHulme.
Common Law DivisionTheCommonLawDivisionhearsbothcriminalandcivilmatters.Thecriminalmattersinvolvehomicideoffencesandoffenceswheretheprosecutionseekslifeimprisonment.OthermattersinvolvingseriouscriminalityormattersofpublicinterestmaybebroughtbeforetheCourtwiththeChiefJustice’sapproval.TheJudgesoftheCommonLawDivisionalsohearbailapplications,mattersconcerningproceedsofcrime,andpost-convictioninquiries.
TheDivisiondealswithallseriouspersonalinjuryandcontractualactions,inwhichtheCourthasunlimitedjurisdiction.ThecivilbusinessoftheDivisionalsocomprises:
• claimsfordamages• claimsofprofessionalnegligence• claimsrelatingtothepossessionofland• claimsofdefamation• administrativelawcasesseekingthereviewof
decisionsbygovernmentandadministrativetribunals
• appealsfromtheLocalCourt.
Equity DivisionTheEquityDivisionexercisesthetraditionalequityjurisdiction,dealingwithclaimsforremediesotherthandamagesandrecoveryofdebts.TheDivision’sworkincludescasesarisingfromcontractualactionsorrightsofproperty,anddisputesrelatingtopartnerships,trustsordeceasedestates.
TheDivisionhearsapplicationsbroughtundernumerousstatutes,includingtheCorporations Act 2001(Cth),theSuccession Act 2006,andtheProperty (Relationships) Act 1984.TheDivisionalsohandlesadiverserangeofapplicationsintheareasofadmiralty,commercial,technologyandconstruction,andsuccessionlaw,andtheCourt’sadoptionandprotectivejurisdictions.
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Figure1.1NSW COURT SYSTEM CRIMINAL JURISDICTION
High Court of Australia
Court of Criminal Appeal
Supreme Court of NSW
Land and Environment Court of NSW
District Court of NSW
Drug Court of NSW**
Local Court of NSW*
Children’s Court of NSW*
Note:TheabovediagramisasimplifiedrepresentationoftheappealprocessinNSW.Actualappealrightsaredeterminedbytherelevantlegislation.
* AppealscanbemadetotheDistrictCourtofNSW,ordirectlytotheSupremeCourtincertaincircumstances.
** SomeappealsfromcommittalproceedingsmaybemadedirectlytotheCourtofCriminalAppeal
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Figure1.2NSW COURT SYSTEM CIVIL JURISDICTION
High Court of Australia
Court of Appeal
Supreme Court of NSW
Land and Environment Court of NSW
District Court of NSW
Dust Diseases Tribunal
Workers Compensation Commission
Local Court of NSW**
Children’s Court of NSW**
NSW Civil and Administrative
Tribunal (NCAT)*
Note:TheabovediagramisasimplifiedrepresentationoftheappealandjudicialreviewprocessinNSW.Actualappealrightsaredeterminedbytherelevantlegislation.
* AppealsfromcertaindecisionofNCATmaybemadetotheCourtofAppeal,SupremeCourt,LandandEnvironmentCourtorDistrictCourt.SeeCivil and Administrative Tribunal Act2013(“theAct”),Part6,Division3.Also,certaindecisionsmaybejudiciallyreviewedbytheSupremeCourtorCourtofAppealunderSection34oftheAct;refertosection48oftheSupreme Court Act1970astowhichdecisionsareassignedtotheCourtofAppeal.
** AppealscanbemadetotheDistrictCourtofNSW,ordirectlytotheSupremeCourtincertaincircumstances
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WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS?
ThejudicialofficersoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesareitsJudgesandAssociateJudges.TheRegistrarsoftheCourthavelimiteddecision-makingpowers.
The JudgesTheGovernorofNewSouthWalesformallyappointstheJudgesoftheCourtfollowingadecisionbyCabinet.Judicialappointmentsaremadeonthebasisofalegalpractitioner’sintegrity,highleveloflegalskillsandthedepthofhisorherpracticalexperience.
Appointmentispursuanttosection25oftheSupreme Court Act 1970.Section25specifiesthattheCourtwillinclude:aChiefJustice,aPresidentoftheCourtofAppealandsuchotherJudgesofAppeal,JudgesandAssociateJudgesastheGovernormayappointfromtimetotime.TheGovernorisalsoempoweredtoappointqualifiedpersonsasActingJudgesofAppealorActingJudgeswhentheneedarises.
TheChiefJusticeis,byvirtueoftheoffice,aJudgeofAppeal,andtheseniormemberoftheCourtofAppeal.TheothermembersoftheCourtofAppealarethePresidentandtheJudgesofAppeal.TheJudgesoftheCourtareassignedtospecificDivisionsandordinarilyconfinetheiractivitiestothebusinessofthoseDivisions.TheChiefJusticemaycertifythataparticularJudgeshouldactasanadditionalJudgeofAppealinaparticularmatterbeforetheCourtofAppeal.
TheSupreme Court Act 1970alsoprovidesthattheChiefJusticemayappointJudgestoadministeraspecificlistwithintheCommonLaworEquityDivisions.DetailsoftheJudgesassignedtotheselistsin2019canbefoundinChapter3.
SetoutbelowaretheJudgesoftheCourt,inorderofseniority,asat31December2019.
Chief JusticeTheHonourableThomasFrederickBathurstAC
PresidentTheHonourableJusticeAndrewScottBell
Judges of AppealTheHonourableJusticeJohnBasten
TheHonourableJusticeRobertBruceScottMacfarlan
TheHonourableJusticeAnthonyJohnMeagher
TheHonourableJusticeCliftonRalphRussellHoebenAMRFD
TheHonourableJusticeJulieKathrynWard
TheHonourableJusticeFabianGleeson
TheHonourableJusticeMarkJamesLeeming
TheHonourableJusticeAnthonyJamesPayne
TheHonourableJusticeRichardWeeksWhite
TheHonourableJusticePaulLeGayBreretonAMRFD
TheHonourableJusticeLucyMcCallum
Chief Judge at Common LawTheHonourableJusticeCliftonRalphRussellHoebenAMRFD
Chief Judge in EquityTheHonourableJusticeJulieKathrynWard
JudgesTheHonourableJusticeMichaelJohnWalton
TheHonourableJusticePeterAnthonyJohnson
TheHonourableJusticeStephenCraigRothmanAM
TheHonourableJusticeDerekMichaelPriceAO
TheHonourableJusticeDavidJacobHammerschlag
TheHonourableJusticeIanGordonHarrison
TheHonourableJusticeElizabethLillianFullerton
TheHonourableJusticeNigelGeoffreyRein
TheHonourableJusticeRobertAllanHulme
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelJohnSlatteryAMRAN
TheHonourableJusticeDavidLloydDavies
TheHonourableJusticeMichaelAndrewPemboke
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TheHonourableJusticeMichaelLeeBall
TheHonourableJusticePeterRichardGarlingRFD
TheHonourableJusticeJohnRobertsonSackar
TheHonourableJusticeAshleyJohnBlack
TheHonourableJusticeChristineElizabethAdamson
TheHonourableJusticeGeoffreyJohnBellew
TheHonourableJusticeJamesWilliamJohnStevenson
TheHonourableJusticeRobertThomasBeech-Jones
TheHonourableJusticeStephenGerardCampbell
TheHonourableJusticeRichardJamesButton
TheHonourableJusticeGeoffreyCharlesLindsay
TheHonourableJusticePhilipHallen
TheHonourableJusticeFrancoisKunc
TheHonourableJusticeStephenDavidRobb
TheHonourableJusticeRowanJamesHunterDarke
TheHonourableJusticeRobertsonJamesWright
TheHonourableJusticePeterJohnDavidHamill
TheHonourableJusticeHelenMcLeodWilson
TheHonourableJusticeDesmondJohnFagan
TheHonourableJusticeNatalieJaneAdams
TheHonourableJusticeJulieLily-AnnLonergan
TheHonourableJusticeThomasGuyRadcliffeParker
TheHonourableJusticeKellyAnneRees
TheHonourableJusticeLeaCarolineArmstrong
TheHonourableJusticePatriciaAnneHenry
TheHonourableJusticeMarkJosephIerace
TheHonourableJusticeRichardAustinCavanagh
The Acting JudgesSetoutbelowaredetailsofthosepersonswhoheldcommissionsasActingJudgesduringthe2019calendaryear.Unlessotherwiseindicated,thejudicialofficer’scommissionwaseffectivefortheentirecalendaryear.
ActingJudgesareaskedtopresideoverspecifichearingsastheneedarises.ThetotalnumberofdayseachpersonactedasaJudgeoftheCourtduring2019isalsoindicated.
ActingJudgesofAppeal(inalphabeticalorder)
• TheHonourableArthurRobertEmmettAOQC,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesandJudgeofAppeal(actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor227days).
• TheHonourableRonaldSackvilleAOQC,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesandJudgeofAppeal(commissioneffectiveuntil13July2019,actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor59days).
• TheHonourableCarolynChalmersSimpsonAO,formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesandJudgeofAppeal(actedasaJudgeandJudgeofAppealfor210days).
Acting Judges• TheHonourablePeterJohnHiddenAMQC,
formerJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales(actedasaJudgefor138days).
AppointmentsThefollowingJudgeswereappointedin2019(inchronologicalorder):
• TheHonourableJusticeLucyMcCallum,aJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWales,wasappointedaJudgeofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson29January2019.
• PatriciaAnneHenrywasappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson30January2019.
• MarkJosephIeraceSCwasappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson31January2019.
• DrAndrewScottBellSCwasappointedthePresidentoftheCourtofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson28February2019.
• RichardAustinCavanaghSCwasappointedaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson16September2019.
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RetirementsThefollowingJudgesretiredin2019(inchronologicalorder):
• TheHonourableJusticeRuthStephanieMcCollAOretiredasaJudgeofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson27January2019.
• TheHonourableJusticeRobertCalderMcDougallretiredasaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson31January2019.
• TheHonourableJusticeMargaretJoanBeazleyAOretiredasthePresidentoftheCourtofAppealoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson28February2019.
• TheHonourableJusticeMonikaSchmidtAMretiredasaJudgeoftheSupremeCourtofNewSouthWaleson11September2019.
The Associate JudgesTheGovernorappointsAssociateJudgestotheCourtundersection111oftheSupreme Court Act 1970.AssociateJudgesareusuallyassignedtoperformworkwithineithertheEquityorCommonLawDivision.However,theymaybeaskedtoworkoutsidetheconfinesoftheseDivisionsintheinterestsofflexibility.
TheworkofanAssociateJudgegenerallyinvolveshearingapplicationsthatarisebeforetrial,certaintypesoftrialworkandworkonproceedingsthattheCourtofAppealoraJudgemayrefertotheAssociateJudge.
Applicationsthatarisebeforetrialinclude:
• applicationsforsummaryjudgment• applicationsfordismissalofproceedings• applicationsforextensionsoftimetocommence• proceedingsundervariousActs• applicationsforthereviewofdecisions
ofRegistrars.
IntheCommonLawDivision,AssociateJudgesconducttrialsofactionsforpersonalinjuryandpossessionofproperty.AssociateJudgesalsohearsothertrials(withoutajury)thatarereferredbytheCourtofAppealoraJudge,inadditiontoappealsfromtheLocalCourtandvarioustribunals.
IntheEquityDivision,AssociateJudgesdealwithproceedingsundertheFamily Provision Act 1982
andtheProperty (Relationships) Act 1984,andapplicationsforthewindingupofcompaniesundertheCorporations Act 2001(Cth).AssociateJudgesalsodealwithinquiriesastodamages,oraccountsreferredbytheCourtofAppealorEquityJudges,alongwithapplicationsrelatingtotheadministrationoftrusts,andcertainprobatematters.
Asat31December2019,theCourt’sonlyAssociateJudgewastheHonourableJoanneRuthHarrison(CommonLawDivision).
The RegistrarsRegistrarsoftheCourtareappointedundersection120oftheSupreme Court Act 1970pursuanttotheprovisionsoftheGovernment Sector Employment Act 2013.TheChiefJusticemayalsocertifyofficersoftheSupremeCourtorLocalCourttoactasDeputyRegistrarsoftheCourtfromtimetotime.
RegistrarsareallocatedtoworkwithintheCourtofAppeal,theCourtofCriminalAppealortooneoftheCourt’sDivisions.TheyarepermittedtoworkoutsideparticularDivisions,ifrequired.
RegistrarsareaffordedlimitedpowersoftheCourtundertheSupremeCourtRules1970andtheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005andundertakesomeofthefunctionsformerlyperformedbyJudgesandAssociateJudges.
TheworkoftheRegistrarscommonlyincludes:
• defendedapplicationsinrelationtosecurityforcosts,discovery,interrogatories,provisionofparticulars,andsubpoenas
• costsdisputesiftheamountinquestionisunlikelytoexceed$20,000
• unopposedapplicationsforthetransferofcasestoorfromtheDistrictCourt
• conductingexaminationsundervariousActs,includingtheCorporationsAct2001(Cth)andtheProceedsofCrimeAct1987(Cth)
• dealingwithapplicationsforordersundermanyoftheprovisionsoftheCorporationsAct2001(Cth),suchasthewindingupofcompanies
• hearingapplicationsasreferredtothembyanAssociateJudge
• issuingcourtordersandwritsofexecution,and• enteringdefaultjudgments.
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TheSupremeCourtRules1970anddelegationsundertheCivil Procedure Act 2005permitRegistrarstodirectlyassisttheJudgesincaseflowmanagement.Forinstance,intheCourtofAppeal,theRegistrardealswithmostinterlocutoryapplications,excludingapplicationstostayjudgmentpendinganappeal.IntheCommonLawDivision,aRegistrarconductsdirectionshearingsintheGeneralList,andalsoassiststhePossessionListandProfessionalNegligenceListJudges.
TheRegistrarsmayalsobecalledupontomediatecases.During2019,tenoftheCourt’sRegistrarswerequalifiedmediatorsandavailabletoconductmediationsthroughouttheyearonarosteredbasis.
DeputyRegistrarsarerosteredtoactasDutyRegistrarandtoprovideproceduralassistanceeachdaytocourtusersinperson,orbyemailortelephone.Theyalsoattendtotheissueofcourtorders,writsofexecutionandothermiscellaneousmatters.
SetoutbelowaretheRegistrarsoftheCourt,asat31December2019:
Executive Director and Principal RegistrarChrisD’Aeth
Director, Assistant Principal Registrar and ProthonotaryRebelKenna
Registrar, Court of AppealJerryRiznyczok
Registrar, Court of Criminal AppealGeorgeGalanis
Registrar, Common Law Case ManagementKarenJones
Registrar in EquityLeonieWalton
Registrar, Corporations ListLeonieWalton
Senior Deputy RegistrarsBrendanBellachNicholasFlaskasJenniferHedgeIrinaHoskinson
Deputy RegistrarsSuzinYoo
Assistant Deputy RegistrarsAnitaChangSivashnaChettyStephanieChiaLyndaGerritsen
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SUPPORTING THE COURT: THE REGISTRY
The work of the RegistryTheRegistryprovidesadministrativeandclericalsupporttotheCourt.
Incivilmatters,theRegistryisresponsiblefor:
• acceptingdocumentsfiledattheCourt• securingthecustodyofcourtdocuments
includingexhibitsanddocumentsproducedundersubpoena
• listingmattersforhearing• issuingcourtprocess• attendingtotheinformationneedsoftheCourt’s
usersbyprovidingproceduralguidance• maintainingtheCourt’sphysicalfilesand
computerrecords• ensuringthatallthenecessaryfacilitiesare
availableforhearings.
Incriminalmatters,theRegistryprovidessupportinprocessingcommittals,bailapplications,applicationsunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001,andCommonLawDivisioncriminalsummaryjurisdictionproceedings.
InrespectoftheCourtofAppeal,theRegistryprovidesspecialisedadministrativeandclericalsupporttotheCourtofAppealJudgesandoffersproceduralguidancetolitigantsandtheirrepresentatives.Similarly,fortheCourtofCriminalAppealtheRegistryprovidessupporttotheJudgeshearingcriminalappealsandalsoissuesordersconcerningthecustodyofprisoners.
Management of the Registry TheChiefJusticedirectstheprioritiestobepursuedbytheRegistry.Ingeneral,theprioritiesreflectthecentralaimofmeetingtheexpectationsofCourtuserscompetently,efficientlyandprofessionally.
OperationalmanagementoftheRegistryishandledbytheExecutiveDirectorandPrincipalRegistraroftheCourt.TheExecutiveDirectorisresponsibleforsecuringandmanagingtheresourcesprovidedtotheCourtbytheNewSouthWalesDepartmentofCommunitiesandJustice.TheExecutiveDirectoralsoprovidesexecutivesupporttotheCourt’sjudicialofficersanddevelopsstrategiestoimprovethedeliveryofRegistryservices.ThesedutiesareundertakenincloseconsultationwiththeChiefJustice,otherjudicialofficers,theDepartment,keyprofessionalbodiesandCourtusers.
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2 CASEFLOW MANAGEMENT
• Overviewbyjurisdiction
• RegionalsittingsoftheCourt
• Alternativedisputeresolution
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OVERVIEW BY JURISDICTION
IntroductionTheCourtmanagestheflowofitscasesfrominceptiontocompletioninanumberofdifferentwaysandiscontinuallylookingtoimproveitsprocessesandoutcomes.
TheCourt’scasemanagementproceduresaresetoutintheUniformCivilProcedureRules,theSupremeCourtRulesandthePracticeNotesissuedbytheChiefJustice.
Commonly,caseswillbeallocatedtoregistrarstoestablishthecoreargumentsindisputeanddeterminewhencasesshouldprogresstohearingbeforeajudgeortheassociatejudge.Aregistrarmakesdirectionstoensurethatacaseisproperlypreparedforhearing.Ifanissuearisesthatfallsoutsidethespecifiedpowersofaregistrar,heorshemayreferthatcasetoajudgeortheassociatejudge.
Court of AppealNewappealcasesarereviewedforcompetencyand,ifnecessary,referredbacktolegalrepresentativestoeithersubstantiatetheclaimofappealasofrightorseekleavetoappeal.Applicationsforleavetoappealareexaminedtoascertainwhethertheyaresuitableforhearingconcurrentlywiththeargumentonappeal.
AppealsareallocatedadirectionscalloverdatebeforetheRegistraroftheCourtofAppealonceanoticeofappealisfiled.Atthatcallover,theappealmaybelistedforhearingiftheappellanthasfiledwrittensubmissionsandtheredappealbook.Furthercasemanagementmaybeorderedwithrespecttolengthyorcomplexappeals.
Theregistrarmanagesandlistsmostappealcasesandapplicationsforleavetoappeal,althoughsomecasesmaybereferredtoaJudgeofAppealforspecialcasemanagement.Urgentcasesareexpeditedandcanbeheardatshortnotice,ifappropriate.Theregistraralsodealswithmostinterlocutoryapplications(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.TheChiefJusticemayalsodirectthatabenchofmorethanthreejudgeshearsanappealorleaveapplication,particularlyinmattersinvolvinganimportantissueoflaw.Insomecircumstances,theChiefJusticemaydirectthattwojudgeshearanappealagainstsentence.SinglejudgeshearsentenceappealsfromtheDrugCourtofNewSouthWales,andalsodealwithbailapplicationsandotherinterlocutoryapplicationsintheCourt.
TheCourtofCriminalAppealListJudgeduring2019wasJusticeHulme.
Common Law DivisionCasemanagementintheCommonLawDivisionbeginswhenasummonsorstatementofclaimisfiledintheregistry.Eachsummonsorstatementofclaim(withtheexceptionofPossessionListmattersandmoneyclaims,knownas‘default’matters)isgivenareturndatebeforeajudgeorregistrarandplacedinaList.AjudgeisappointedtomanageeachList,whiletheCommonLawListJudgemonitorsallcaseslistedforhearingbeforeajudge.Registrarshandledefaultmattersadministratively.
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Common Law List JudgeTheCommonLawListJudgeallocatescaseslistedforhearingtospecificjudges.Whendecidingwhichjudgewillhearamatter,theListJudgeconsidersthetypeofcase,itsestimatedhearinglength,andwhetherthejudgehasothercourtcommitments.TheListJudgealsohearsvariousapplicationsincasesalreadylistedforhearing,includingallapplicationsforadjournment.Fromtimetotime,theListJudgewillissuefurthercasemanagementdirectionsincasesalreadylistedforhearing.TheCommonLawListJudgeduring2019wasJusticeFagan.
Common Law Duty Judge TheDutyJudgeisavailableeachdaytohearurgentapplications,includingapplicationsforinterlocutoryinjunctions,duringandoutsidenormalcourthourswhenrequired.JudgesoftheDivisionarerosteredtoactastheDutyJudgeforoneweekatatimeduringLawTerm.AVacationJudgeisrosteredduringthecourtvacationtoperformthisrole.
TheDutyJudgealsoconductsanapplicationslisteachMonday.TheapplicationsinthislistincludeappealsfromtheLocalCourtundertheCrimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001,applicationsforrestrainingorders,applicationsfordeclaratoryrelief,andapplicationstodispensewithajury.Thesematterscannotbedeterminedbytheassociatejudgeoraregistrar.Mattersareinitiallylistedat9:00ambeforearegistrartodeterminewhethertheapplicationisreadytobereferredtotheDutyJudge,whomayspeciallyfixapplicationsthatcannotbeheardontheMondaytoalatertimeordate.
TheDutyJudgedeterminesinterlocutoryapplicationsforrestrainingassetsandissuesexaminationordersundertheConfiscation of Proceeds of Crime Act 1989(NSW),Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990(NSW),andProceedsofCrime Act 1987(Cth).TheDutyJudgealsoconsiders,inchambers,applicationsseekingauthorisationofwarrants,suchasthosemadeundertheSurveillance Devices Act 2007(NSW).
Associate JudgeTheAssociateJudgeintheCommonLawDivisiondealswithstatutoryappealsfromtheLocalCourt(exceptundertheCrimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001).TheAssociateJudgealsodealswithapplicationsforsummaryjudgmentanddismissal,applicationsforextensionundertheLimitationAct1969,andcontestedapplicationstotransfermattersfromtheDistrictCourt.TheAssociateJudgemaydealwithothermattersasoutlinedinScheduleDoftheSupremeCourtRules1970.
MattersallocatedtotheAssociateJudgearecasemanagedbyaRegistrardailyat9:00am.TheRegistrarrefersapplicationstotheAssociateJudgewhentheyarereadyforhearing.
Lists of the Common Law DivisionInadditiontotheabove,theworkoftheDivisionisalsodistributedamongstanumberofspecialisedLists.TheChiefJusticeappointsaspecificjudgetoberesponsibleforthemanagementofaListthroughouttheyear.TheseListsaresetoutbelowinalphabeticalorder,togetherwiththejudgeappointedtomanageeachListin2019.
Specialised case management List
Judge managing List in 2019
AdministrativeandIndustrialLawList
JusticeAdamson
CriminalList JusticeFullerton
DefamationList JusticeHoeben,ChiefJudgeatCommonLawJusticeSackar
HighRiskOffenderList JusticeBellew
PossessionList JusticeDavies
ProfessionalNegligenceList
JusticeHarrison
Administrative and Industrial Law ListThreebroadcategoriesofcasesareassignedtothisList:statutoryappealsarisingfromanerroroflaworonaquestionoflaw;administrativelawmatterscommencedundersection69oftheSupreme Court Act 1970,challenginganerroroflawonthefaceoftherecordorjurisdictionalerror;andmattersundertheIndustrial Relations Act 1996
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thatwereformerlydealtwithbytheIndustrialCourt(alsoknownastheIndustrialCommissioninCourtSession).
TheAdministrativeandIndustrialLawListoperatesinaccordancewiththeproceduresoutlinedinPracticeNoteSCCL3.
Bails ListApplicationsforbailortoreviewbaildeterminationscanbemadetotheSupremeCourtundertheBail Act 2013inrespectofanypersonaccusedofanyoffence,evenifthetrialwillnotbeheardintheSupremeCourt.Afteranapplicationisacceptedforfiling,itislistedforacalloveror,attheCourt’sdiscretion,listedbytheRegistrarinchambers.Thecut-offdayforanapplicationtobelistedinacalloveristheWednesdayoftheweekpriortothecallover.Applicationsarenormallyallocatedamaximumof30minuteswhenlistedforhearing.
TheproceduresforbailapplicationsaredetailedinPracticeNoteSCCL11.
Criminal ListArraignmenthearingsareheldeachmonthduringlawterm.Theaimofthearraignmentprocedureistominimisethelossofavailablejudicialtimethatoccurswhentrialsarevacatedaftertheyarelistedforhearing,orwhenaguiltypleaisenteredimmediatelypriorto,oronthedayofthetrial’scommencement.
Thearraignmentprocedurecontemplatestheinvolvementofcounselatanearlystageoftheproceedings.Thisallowsboththeprosecutionanddefencetoconsiderarangeofissuesthatmayprovideanopportunityforanearlypleaofguilty,ortoshortenthedurationofthetrial.
TheproceduresforarraignmentaredetailedinPracticeNoteSCCL2.
Defamation ListMattersfiledinthisListaremanagedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsoftheDefamation Act 2005.MattersarefirstlistedbeforeaJudgefordirectionsandlegalargument.ThepartiesmayalsoasktheJudgetoconsiderwhetherthedisputeshouldbetriedbeforeajury.IftheJudgegrantsanapplication
fortrialbyajury,thematterwillbesetdownforhearing.Thejurywilldetermineifthematerialinquestionisdefamatoryandifthereisanylawfuldefenceforpublishingthematerial.Ifthejuryfindsthattheplaintiffhasbeendefamedwithoutanylawfuldefencebeingestablished,theJudgewillthendetermineanydamagespayableandresolveanyoutstandingissuesindispute.
PracticeNoteSCCL4governstheoperationofthisList.
General List (formerly known as the General Case Management List)ThisListcomprisesallCommonLawDivisioncivilclaimsthatarenotincludedintheAdministrativeandIndustrialLaw,Defamation,HighRiskOffender,PossessionorProfessionalNegligenceLists.Itincludesmoneyclaims,personalinjuryclaims,claimsforpossession(excludingland),breachofcontract,personalpropertydamage,maliciousprosecution,andclaimsundertheCompensation to Relatives Act 1897.ThesecasesaremanagedbyaRegistrar,whomakesdirectionstoensurethecaseisreadyforhearingandencouragestheearlyresolutionofdisputesthroughmediationorsettlement.
TheproceduresassociatedwiththerunningofthisListaresetoutinPracticeNoteSCCL1.
High Risk Offender ListDuring2018theCourtestablishedthisListtoassistintheearlyidentificationandcasemanagementofurgentmattersundertheCrimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006.PreviouslythesemattersweredealtwithintheGeneralList.
Possession ListThePossessionListdealswithallproceedingsclaimingpossessionofland.AllmattersinthisListrequiringcasemanagementaremanagedintheOnlineCourt,unlesstheCourtotherwiseorders.Earlyresolutionofcasesisencouragedthroughmediation,otheralternativedisputeresolutionprocessesorsettlement.Casemanagementisalsousedtoclarifytherealissuesindispute.
PracticeNoteSCCL6appliestocasesinthisList.
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Professional Negligence ListClaimsagainstmedicalpractitioners,alliedhealthprofessionals(suchasdentists,chemistsandphysiotherapists),hospitals,solicitorsandbarristersareallocatedtotheProfessionalNegligenceList.Specialisedcasemanagementencouragespartiestofocusontherealissuesindisputeinthesetypesofclaims.ARegistrarconductsearlycasemanagementhearings.TheProfessionalNegligenceListJudgehearsalsoapplicationsandmakesdirections,accordingtothespecificneedsofeachmatter.
PracticeNoteSCCL7appliestothisList.
Equity DivisionProceedingsintheEquityDivisionarecasemanagedbyRegistrarsandJudgesoftheDivisiontoachievethejust,quickandcheapresolutionoftherealissuesindisputebetweenthelitigants.TheworkoftheDivisionisadministeredthroughtheGeneralListandanumberofspecialisedLists.
Equity Duty JudgeAJudgeoftheDivisionisavailableatalltimesforurgentapplications.ADutyJudgeisrosteredforablockoftwoweeks.IfamatterrequiresanurgentfinalhearingtheDutyJudgewillconsultwiththeChiefJudgewithregardtopossibleallocationofanurgentfinalhearingdate.
Expedition JudgeCasesareexpeditedwhensufficienturgencyisshown.ApplicationsforexpeditionaremadetotheExpeditionJudgeonFridays.TheExpeditionJudgecasemanagesallexpeditedcasesandhearsthosecaseswhentheyarereadyfortrial.During2019,theExpeditionJudgewasJusticeSackar.
General ListAllcasesotherthanthoseinthespecialisedLists,includingapplicationsforfamilyprovisionunderChapter3oftheSuccession Act 2006orFamily Provision Act 1982,areenteredintotheGeneralList.
FamilyprovisionapplicationsaremanagedinaccordancewithPracticeNoteSCEq7bytheFamilyProvisionListJudge,whoalsosetsthecasesdownforhearing.OthercasesintheGeneralListaremanagedbytheRegistrarinEquityinaccordancewithPracticeNoteSCEq1(CaseManagement)andEq14(OnlineCourtProtocol).TheRegistrarsetscasesdownforhearingbeforetheJudgesoftheDivision.TheRegistrarconsultswiththeChiefJudgeinEquityinrelationtolongorcomplexmatters.
Specialised Lists of the Equity DivisionTheEquityDivision’scaseloadisalsomanagedbyallocatingcertainmatterstospecificListsaccordingtothenatureoftheclaims.TheseListsaresetoutbelowinalphabeticalorder,togetherwiththeJudgeappointedtomanageeachListin2019.
Specialised case management List
Judge managing the List in 2019
AdmiraltyList JusticeRein
AdoptionsList JusticeSackar
CommercialList JusticeHammerschlag
CommercialArbitrationList
JusticeHammerschlag
CorporationsList JusticeBlack
FamilyProvisionList JusticeHallen
ProbateList JusticeLindsay
ProtectiveList JusticeLindsay
RealPropertyList JusticeDarke
RevenueList JusticeWard,ChiefJudgeinEquity
TechnologyandConstructionList
JusticeHammerschlag
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Admiralty ListTheAdmiraltyListdealswithmaritimeandshippingdisputes.ItisadministeredinthesamemannerastheCommercialList(seebelow).
Adoptions ListTheAdoptionsListdealswithapplicationsforadoptionordersanddeclarationsofthevalidityofforeignadoptionsundertheAdoptions Act 2000.
Mostapplicationsareunopposed.Onceallsupportingaffidavitsarefiled,aJudgewilldealwiththeapplicationintheabsenceofthepublic,andwithouttheattendanceoftheapplicantsortheirlawyers.Unopposedapplicationsrequirecloseattentionforcompliancewithformalrequirements,butthereislittledelay.
Asmallnumberofcontentioushearingstakeplaceincourtintheabsenceofthepublic.Mostoftheserelatetodispensingwithconsenttoadoption.TheRegistrarinEquitydealswithrequestsforinformationundertheAdoptions Act 2000.
Commercial ListTheCommercialListisconcernedwithcasesarisingoutoftransactionsintradeorcommerce.ThecasemanagementstrategyappliedtotherunningofthisListaimstohavemattersbroughtonforhearingquicklyby:
• attendingtothetrueissuesatanearlystage• ensuringwitnessstatementsareexchangedina
timelymanner• intensemonitoringofthepreparationof
everycase.
Thereisalsoadherencetothescheduledhearingdate,andhearingsarecontinuedtoconclusion,eventhoughtimeestimatesmaybeexceeded.
Commercial Arbitration ListDisputesenteredintotheCommercialArbitrationListarisefromthecontextofarbitralproceedingsinwhichtheCourthasprescribedjurisdictionintheCommercial Arbitration Act 2010,orbyvirtueofaprovisionwithinanarbitrationagreement,orotherwise.
TheListprovidespartieswithaquickandeffectivemechanismforresolvingdisputesinrelationto
arbitrationagreements,ordisputesarisingfromthecontextorformofarbitralproceedings.
TheJudgeassignedtomanagetheListcallsoverallpendingapplicationsfortnightly,andpartiestomattersenteredintotheListareexpectedtocomplywiththeprovisionsofPracticeNoteSCEq9.
Corporations ListARegistrarsits4daysaweektohearmostapplicationsandhearingsundertheCorporations Act 2001(Cth)andrelatedlegislation.TheRegistrarmayreferapplicationstotheJudgeonaMonday.TheRegistrardeterminesroutineapplicationstowind-upcompanies,applicationsforleavetoproceedagainstcompaniesinliquidation(limitedtopersonalinjuryactions)andapplicationstoreinstatecompanies.
TheJudgewillgivedirectionsandmonitorpreparationsforhearinginlongermatters,aswellasinothercomplexcorporatecases.CasesmanagedinthisListaregenerallygivenahearingdateassoonastheyareready.
PracticeNoteSCEq4appliestocasesenteredintotheCorporationsList.
Probate ListTheworkperformedbytheJudgesandtheRegistrarsconsistsofbothcontentiousandnon-contentiouscases.TheRegistrarsdealwiththemajorityofnon-contentiouscases.Thisincludesthegrantingofcommonformprobatewhereapplicationsareinorderandareunopposed.
BoththeProbateListJudgeandtheRegistrarshaveprocedureswherebysomesupervisioniskeptoverexecutorsinthefilingofaccountsandensuringbeneficiariesarepaid.
IncourttheRegistrarconsidersroutineapplicationsandapplicationsconcerningaccounts.Shouldaroutineapplicationrequireadecisiononamatterofprinciple,theapplicationisreferredtotheProbateListJudge.
TheProbateListJudgesitsonceaweektodealwithcomplexapplications.Ifanapplicationcanbedealtwithquickly,itisusuallyheardimmediately.Othersaresetdownforhearing,normallywithinamonth.
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ContentiousmattersaremonitoredbyeitheraJudgeoraRegistrar.Contentiousmatterscommonlyincludedisputesastoatestator’slastvalidwill.Whenthesecasesarereadytoproceed,theyareplacedinthecalloverlisttoreceiveahearingdatebeforeanEquityJudge.
Protective ListTheworkoftheProtectiveLististoensuretheaffairsofpeopledeemedincapableoflookingaftertheirproperty,orthemselves,areproperlymanaged.TheListalsodealswithappealsfromtheGuardianshipTribunalofNewSouthWales,alongwithapplications(inchambers)fromtheNewSouthWalesTrusteeandGuardianforadviceregardingtheadministrationofestates.TheCourtalsoconsidersapplicationsregardingmissingpersons’estatesand,incertaincircumstances,mayorderthattheirestatebemanagedundertheNSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009.
OftentheissuesindisputeinthisListareofahighlysensitivenature.TheCourtacknowledgesthissituationandhandlestheseproceedingswiththeminimumdegreeofformality.However,whenthereisadisputethatcannotberesolvedinthiswayitisdecidedmoreformally.
ARegistrarsitsincourtonedayaweekforthisList.TheRegistrarmayreferacasetobedeterminedbytheJudgewithoutfurtherappearanceoradjournacaseintotheJudge’slist.AJudgesitsonceaweektodealwithreferredcases.MostcasesareconsideredontheJudge’susualsittingdayassoonasthepartiesareready.Longercases,however,arespeciallyfixed,usuallywithinonemonth.
Real Property ListTheRealPropertyListcasemanagesdisputesoverlandthatthefilingpartyseekstoresolvethroughequitablerelief,ratherthanrecoveringamonetarysumasdamagesordebtunderthecommonlaw.Thedisputescouldrelatetoacontractforthesaleofland,orissueswithleases,easements,covenantsorstrataandcommunityschemes.TheRealPropertyListJudgesitsweeklytomanagenewcasesandcomplexinterlocutoryapplicationsthathavebeengivenleavetoproceed.TheRegistrarinEquityprovidessupporttotheListJudgebyhandlingproceduralapplicationsforsubstitutedservice,securityforcostsortosetasidesubpoenasandnoticestoproduce.
PracticeNoteSCEq12appliestocasesenteredintotheRealPropertyList.
Revenue ListTheRevenueListisdedicatedtothehearingoftaxationmatters.ThisListwascreatedtoensurethatthesemattersareheardasefficientlyaspossible.MattersintheRevenueListareheardbyaspecificEquityDivisionJudgeeachmonth,andallocatedtheearliesthearingdatepossiblebeforethissameJudge.
PracticeNoteSCEq10appliestocasesenteredintotheRevenueList.
Technology and Construction ListCasesinvolvingcomplextechnologicalissuesanddisputesarisingoutofbuildingorengineeringcontractsareallocatedtotheTechnologyandConstructionList.ThisListismanagedbythesameJudgeandinthesamemannerastheCommercialList.
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REGIONAL SITTINGS OF THE COURT
In2019criminaltrialswereconductedatAlbury,Armidale,CoffsHarbour,Grafton,Lismore,Newcastle,PortMacquarie,WaggaWaggaandWollongong.CivilhearingswereconductedatByronBay,Grafton,MossVale,Newcastle,OrangeandWaggaWagga.TheCourtofAppealsatatOrange.
CriminaltrialsandcivilhearingswillcontinuetobeheldinvenuesoutsideSydneyasrequired.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
AlternativedisputeresolutionisabroadtermthatreferstothemeansbywhichpartiescanresolvetheirdisputewiththeassistanceofaneutralpersonwithouttheneedforaconventionalcontestedhearingbeforeaJudge.MediationisthemostcommonlyusedalternativedisputeresolutionmethodinSupremeCourtcases.
MediationMediation,pursuanttoPart4oftheCivil Procedure Act 2005,isavailableformostcivilproceedings.Mediationisnotavailableincriminalproceedings.
Theroleofthemediatoristoassistpartiesinresolvingtheirdisputebyalertingthemtopossiblesolutions,whileallowingthepartiestochoosewhichoptionisthemostagreeable.Themediatordoesnotimposeasolutionontheparties.TenqualifiedRegistrarswerecertifiedtoconductmediationsthroughout2019.Alternatively,partiescouldchoosetouseprivatemediators.
Amattermayproceedtomediationattherequestoftheparties,ortheCourtmayreferappropriateproceedingswithorwithouttheconsentofparties.IftheCourtordersthatamatterbereferredtomediation,thereareseveralwaysinwhichamediatormaybeappointed.Ifthepartiesareinagreementastoaparticularmediator,theycanasktheCourttoappointthatmediatorortheymayagreetomediationbyaRegistrar.Ifpartiescannotagreeuponamediator,theyshouldattempttoagreeonhowtheCourtcanappointaqualifiedmediator;optionsaresetoutinPracticeNoteSCGen6.
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SettlementofdisputesbymediationisencouragedintheCourtofAppealandintheCommonLawandEquityDivisions.Partiesmayderivethefollowingbenefitsfrommediation:
• anearlyresolutiontotheirdispute• lowercosts• greaterflexibilityinresolvingthedisputeas
thesolutionsthatmaybeexploredthroughmediationarebroaderthanthoseopentotheCourt’sconsiderationinconventionallitigation.
Evenwheremediationfailstoresolveamatterentirelyandthedisputeproceedstocourt,thebenefitofmediationcanoftenbecomeapparentatthesubsequentcontestedhearing.Mediationoftenhelpstodefinetherealissuesandfactsindisputeandthismayresultinareductionincourttimeand,consequently,lowerlegalcosts.
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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 AppealTherewere366netnewcasescomingtotheCourtofAppealin2019.Thisis3%higherthanin2018and2017but8%lowerthanin2016.
Thesourcesofthenewcasesin2019were:SupremeCourt(226),DistrictCourt(87),LandandEnvironmentCourt(25),NSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal(10)andothersources(18).
Ofthe366newcases,191werecommencedbynoticeofappeal,135bysummonsseekingleavetoappeal,and40bysummonsfortheCourtofAppealtoexerciseitsoriginaljurisdiction.
Therewere339finaldisposalsin2019,whichis6%lowerthanthenumberin2018.
Finaldisposalsoccurredbythefollowingmethodsduring2019:
• judgmentfollowinghearingofeitheranappeal,anoriginaljurisdictionsummonsoraconcurrenthearing(aconcurrenthearingenablestheapplicationforleavetoappealand,whereleaveisgranted,theconsequentappealtobedeterminedinasinglehearing)–63%;
• refusal,strikingoutorotherfinaldisposalofanapplicationforleavetoappeal–23%;
• settlement,orelsenon-progressiontoanappealfollowingagrantofleavetoappeal–9%;
• strikingoutorotherfinaldisposalofeitheranappealoranoriginaljurisdictionsummons–5%.
TheoverallCourtofAppealpendingcaseloadattheendof2019was205cases,a15%increasefromtheendof2018.Ofthe205pendingcases,63(31%)werecasesforwhichthequestionofleavetoappealhadyettobedetermined.
TheageprofileoftheCourtofAppeal’spendingcaseloadremainedatagoodlevelduring2019(seeFigure3.1).Attheendoftheyear,93%ofpendingcaseswerewithin12monthsofage(withthenumberofcasesolderthan12monthsincreasingslightly,from11to14),whichremainsbetterthanthenationalbenchmark(90%)forthatagegroup.Fourcaseswereolderthan24months:oneisan
appealthatisawaitingresolutionofarelatedcaseinanothercourt,andtheremainingthreewererelatedcasesthathavesubsequentlybeendiscontinued.
Thelistingdelayduringmostof2019rangedbetween1and4monthsforhearingofnon-urgentsubstantiveappealsandforconcurrenthearings.Itsettledat1.8monthsforthestartofthe2020lawterm.Hearingsforleaveapplicationsalonearelistedmorequickly,andthelistingdelayforthesewaslessthan2monthsthroughoutmostof2019,settlingat1.9monthsforthestartofthe2020lawterm.
Figure3.1Court of Appeal achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
94%
99%
93%
98%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2018 Achieved in 2019
Court of Criminal AppealTherewere352newcasescomingtotheCourtofCriminalAppealin2019.Thiswas14%higherthanin2018butsimilartotheratesin2015and2016.
Thesourcesofcriminalappealsin2019were:DistrictCourt(277),SupremeCourt(44),LandandEnvironmentCourt(9)andothersources(22).
Ofthe352newcases,207wereappealsagainstseverityofsentence(ofwhich31wereappealsbytheCrown),102wereappealsagainstconviction,20wereappealsagainstinterlocutoryjudgmentsand23werecasesofothertypes(including3casesreturnedfromtheHighCourtforre-hearing).
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Convictionappealsmadeup29%ofnewcasesin2019,comparedwith27%in2018and24%in2017.Convictionappealsaremorecomplexandtypicallyrequirelongerhearingsthanappealsagainstseverityofsentenceonly.Convictionappealhearingsareusuallytwicethelengthofhearingsonsentenceseverityonlyandcanextendtoawholedayorlonger.
Therewere368disposalsin2019,similartothenumberin2018.Ofthe368disposals,313werefollowingasubstantivehearing,23werebytheappellantabandoningorwithdrawingtheappealpriortoahearing,14werebyrefusalofleavetoappealand18werebyothermethods.
Overtheyear,withthelowerrateofnewcasescominginandthesteadydisposalrate,thependingcaseloaddecreasedfrom171to155cases.
TheageprofileoftheCourtofCriminalAppeal’spendingcaseloadremainedatanoptimallevelduring2019.Attheendoftheyear,itagainmetorwellexceededthenationalbenchmarks(seeFigure3.2),withonly5casesolderthan12months(noneofthesebeingolderthan19months).
During2019thelistingdelayfornon-urgenthearingofcriminalappealsrangedbetween2and4months.Itsettledat3.4monthsforthestartofthe2020lawterm.Interlocutoryappealsarelistedmorequicklyaccordingtotheirurgency.
Figure3.2Court of Criminal Appeal achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
98%
100%
97%
100%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2018 Achieved in 2019
Common Law Division criminal casesIn2019therewere103newcases(defendants)registeredintheCriminalList,comparedwith93during2018and112during2017.Ofthe103newcases,93wereprosecutionsbroughtbytheNSWOfficeoftheDirectorofPublicProsecutions(83oftheseinvolvinghomicidecharges)and10bytheOfficeoftheCommonwealthDirectorofPublicProsecutions.
AfterentryintotheCriminalList,thenextstepusuallyisarraignment.Themajorityofdefendantsenterapleaof‘notguilty’atarraignment,andthearraignmentconcludeswiththosecasesbeinglistedfortrial.Nearlyalltrialsareconductedwithajury.
Atarraignmentsduring2019:
• 84defendantsweregivenlistingsfortrials(9beingforjudge-alonetrials),withthetrialssettostartineither2019or2020;
• 7defendantswerelistedforfitnesshearings(todealwiththequestionofthedefendant’scapacitytostandtrial);
• 20defendantsenteredapleaof‘guilty’atarraignment,comparedwith23during2018and14during2017.
Somedefendantschangetheirpleato‘guilty’afterbeinggivenatrialdate–sometimesthechangeoccursaslateasthestartof,orduring,thetrial.During2019,therewere13defendantswhoenteredapleaof‘guilty’afterarraignment,ofwhich10wereeitherafterthestartofthetrialorduringthemonthinwhichthetrialwasscheduledtostart.Whenthepleaischangedatsuchalatestageitisusuallyimpossibletore-assignthattrial-timetoanotherdefendant.
Intotal,33pleasof‘guilty’weretakenin2019,comparedwith41during2018and42during2017.Thenumberandtimingofthepleasof‘guilty’arefactorsthatsignificantlyaffecttheoperationoftheCriminalList:fewerpleasof‘guilty’enteredatarraignmentleadtomorecasesqueuingfortrialsand,consequently,increasesinlistingdelaysandfinalisationtimesforcases.
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Forcriminaltrialslistedtostartduring2019thehearingestimatesgiventotheCourtrangedfrom1dayto6months.ThetrialofR v Warwick,whichhadgivena6-monthestimate,ran(withinterruptions)fromJuly2018throughallof2019.Theaveragehearingestimateforthetrialsonhand(eithernotstartedornotconcluded)attheendofeachmonth,wasbetween5.7and6.5weeksduring2019.
SinceNovember2016,thestandardreferenceformeasuringlistingdelayforcriminaltrialshasbeenthe4-weektrial.Atthefirstarraignmentsofthe2020lawterm,thelistingdelaywas5.0monthsforcriminaltrialsrequiringatleast4weeksoftrialtime.Thelistingdelayforcriminaltrialscanvaryduringtheyear,especiallywhenseverallongtrialsarelistedsimultaneously,whenlongtrialsmustbevacatedandre-listed,orwhendefendantsplead‘guilty’aftertheirtrialhasbeensetorstarted.
Trialsfor83defendantswerelistedtostartduring2019.For19ofthosedefendantsthetrialeithercollapsedorwasadjourned(thishappenedfor16defendantsduring2018andfor14defendantsduring2017).Theneedtore-startorre-listtrialsfollowingcollapseoradjournmentreducestheCourt’scapacitytodealwithitsbacklogofcases.
Forthefourteenthconsecutiveyearnotrialwas‘notreached’(asituationwheretheCourt,ratherthantheparties,cannotstartalistedtrial).TheCourtdoesnotnormallyover-listitscriminaltrials.Thereisalreadyariskoftrialsbeing‘notreached’whenearliertrialsrunlongerthantheirestimatedtime,andover-listingcompoundsthatrisk.TheCourtisawareoftheemotionalandfinancialimpactforthefamilyofvictimsandforwitnesses(andofthecosttothecommunityinfundingthecriminaljusticesystem)whentrialsaredelayed.ItisahighpriorityfortheCourttoallocateitsresourcessothateverycriminaltrialcanstartonitslistedday.
Atotalof106defendants’caseswerefinalisedduring2019,comparedwith99during2018.TheCourtpreparedandhandeddown67sentencesduring2019,comparedwith74during2018.
Bytheendof2019therewere110defendantswithcasespendingintheCriminalList,adecrease
of3%fromthepositionattheendof2018(113defendants).Notethatarelativelysmallnumberofcasescancauseappreciablechanges(onapercentagebasis)inthependingcaseloadfromyeartoyear.
Withtherelativelylownumberofcasesinthisresource-intensivelist,theageprofileforpendingcasescanalsoshowsomevolatility.TheageprofileforCriminalListpendingcasesimprovedduring2019(seeFigure3.3)withrespecttothe12-monthbenchmark,andthenumberofcasesolderthan12monthsdecreasedfrom52to36;however,thenumberofcasesolderthan24monthsincreasedfrom6to13.Nineofthe13casesolderthan24monthsattheendof2019hadbeendelayedatleastoncebytheneedtoeitherre-startorre-listthedefendant’strial(arisingfromhungjuries,collapsedtrialsorsuccessfulapplicationstovacatescheduledtrialdates).Onecase(Warwick)haditstrialdelayedforseveralmonthsbynumerouspreliminaryapplicationsand,sincestarting,hasover-runits6-monthestimateconsiderably.AccesstoactingjudgesisinvaluableinmaintaininganacceptableageprofilefortheCriminalList,astheonlyalternativewouldbetotakepermanentlyappointedjudgesawayfromotherareasofwork.
WhenevaluatingtheCourt’sperformanceagainstthenationalbenchmarksitisimportanttonotethatalmostallindictmentspresentedtothisCourtareforoffencesofmurderormanslaughter,orhavethepotentialforalifesentencetobeimposed.Incontrast,thecriminallistsofmostotherAustraliansupremecourtsdealroutinelywithabroaderrangeofchargesthatincludesshortermaximumsentences.Thenationaltimelinessbenchmarkof12monthsfromcommittaltosentencingisthereforeachallengingtargetforthisCourt.Also,whenmakingcomparisontothenationalbenchmark,notethattherelativelysmallsizeoftheListallowsjustafewcasestomakestatisticallysignificantchangestopercentage-basedresults.
TheBailsListsawconsiderablechangeduring2019,followingthecommencementinJuneofanewBailsListPracticeNote.UnderthenewPracticeNote,applicantsmustbereadytoproceedatthetimeoflodgingtheirapplication.Thecaseis
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thenlistedpromptly,normallywithin5-12days,forcallovertoconfirmhearingreadiness.TheCourtaimstothenlistcasesforahearingwithin20daysofthecallover.Thispracticeensurestheavailablehearingtimeisusedefficiently.Previously,ahearingdatewasallocatedtoeachcaseatlodgment;however,manycaseswerenotreadybytheallocateddate,resultinginwastedcourtresourcesandincreasedlistingdelaysintheBailsList.ThenumberofapplicationscomingtotheCourthasreducedunderthenewPracticeNote;thenumberand(morenotably)theproportionofwithdrawnapplicationshavealsoreduced.
Atotalof2,648applicantslodgedapplicationsintheBailsListduring2019,adecreaseof42%fromthenumberin2018(4,545).Releaseapplicationswere97%oftheapplicationslodgedin2019.
Therewere3,433BailsListapplicationsdisposedofduring2019,adecreaseof21%fromthenumberduring2018(4,353).Thedecreaseisattributabletothereducedlodgmentrateduringthesecondhalfof2019.Duringthefinalthreemonthsof2019only18%ofdisposalswereasaresultoftheapplicantwithdrawingtheapplicationbeforeoratthescheduledhearing;incontrast,duringthesameperiodin2018thewithdrawalratewas68%.
TheBailsListpendingcaseloadhasdecreasedsubstantially:from893attheendof2018to122attheendof2019.ThisisaresultofthelowerlodgmentrateandtheprompthearingandfinalisationofcasesunderthenewPracticeNote.
Thelistingdelayfor30-minutehearingsofadults’bailapplicationshasfluctuatedmarkedlyoverrecentyears,rangingbetween3and15weeksfromlodgment,butrarelyhasitfallenbelow6weeks.SincethestartofthenewPracticeNote,thelistingdelayhasbeenbetween1and3weeks,risingto7weeksbrieflyduringCourtvacation,andsettlingat2weeksforthestartofthe2020lawterm.Juveniles’applicationsaregivenpriorityandarenearlyalwayslistedwithin2weeksoflodgment.
Figure3.3Criminal List achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
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100%
54%
95%
67%
88%
0%
100%
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
National benchmark Achieved in 2018 Achieved in 2019
Common Law Division civil casesThecivilworkoftheCommonLawDivisioncanbeseparatedintotwobroadgroups:
• contestedordefendedcases(theserequirecasemanagementandincludethespecialisedcasemanagementlists)
• casesrequiringnocasemanagement(suchasuncontestedcasesproceedingtodefaultjudgment,andthemiscellaneousapplicationsdealtwithadministrativelybyRegistrarsandregistryofficers).
Overall,therewere3,826civilfilingsintheDivisionduring2019,anincreaseof8%fromthenumberin2018(3,552).Increaseswereseenincontestedcases,particularlypersonalinjuryclaims,aswellasuncontestedcases(notingthatthemajorityofPossessionListcasesproceedasuncontestedcases).TheonlyareasofworkwithdecreasedfilingsweretheAdministrativeLawList,theDefamationListandthemiscellaneousapplications.FilingsintheSupremeCourt’sDefamationListarenowquitelowascasesthatcanproperlybecommencedintheDistrictCourtareencouragedtocommenceinthatjurisdiction.
Thedisposalrateduring2019was7%higherthanin2018.TherewereincreaseddisposalsineveryListexcepttheDefamationList.Thetotalof3,478disposalsincluded1,513contestedcases(upfrom1,399lastyear),ofwhich440hadbeenlistedforatleastonehearing.Theremaining1,965
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disposalswereuncontestedcases:Therewere683uncontestedcasesdismissedforinactivity,569casesfinalisedbydefaultjudgment,564disposalsofmiscellaneousapplicationsand149otherdisposals.During2019theregistryreceivedatotalof723applicationsfordefaultjudgment,ofwhich96%wereeithergrantedorrequisitionedwithin5workingdays.
ThenumberofpendingcasesintheCommonLawDivisionroseby11%during2019(seeFigure3.4).Thecontestedcaseloadincreasedby10%,from1,938to2,140.Thisisexpectedtoincreasethenumberofcasesrequiringcasemanagementdirectionsandhearingsin2020and2021.Theuncontestedcaseloadincreasedby11%,from1,012to1,124,asaresultofincreasedfilingsinthePossessionList(wheremostcasesproceedasuncontestedcases).
TheJusticeLinksystemisusedtoreporttheageofpendingcivilcases(seeFigure3.5).ThenationalbenchmarksaresetbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services.TheproportionoftheDivision’scivilcaseloadwithin12monthsofageregressedslightlyduring2019from70%to68%.Theproportionwithin24monthsofageremainedstableat86%;however,thenumberofcasesonhandandolderthan24monthsincreasedfrom401to471.
Thelistingdelayfornon-urgenthearingofCommonLawDivisioncivilcasesthatrequired5daysofhearingtimefluctuatedduring2019between6.0and11.2months.Bythestartofthe2020lawterm,thelistingdelayhadreached12.0monthsfor5-dayhearings;itwas1.3monthsfor2-dayhearingsand12.8monthsfor10-dayhearings.
Therewere1,107matterslistedduring2019forahearingofeitherthesubstantiveissuesorlengthyinterlocutoryissues(seeFigure3.6).Ofthoselistedmatters,632proceededtohearing,314settledafterbeinglistedforhearingand161successfullyappliedtovacatethehearinglisting.ThisinformationiscollatedindependentlyoftheJusticeLinksystem.
Sothatavailablejudicialtimeisusedoptimally,theCommonLawDivision’scivilhearingsareover-listed.Thiscarriesariskthatsomecasesmaybe‘notreached’(asituationwherethepartiesarereadytoproceedbuttheCourtisunabletoprovideajudgeforthehearing).NoneoftheDivision’slistedhearingswas‘notreached’during2019(thesameresultasin2018,andcomparedwith2in2017).Since2007theDivisionhasmaintaineda‘notreached’rateof1%orlessforitslistedcivilhearings.
CivilhearingscomprisejustoneareaofworkcoveredbytheCommonLawDivision’s23judges,whoalsohearalltheCourt’scriminaltrials,allhearingsintheBailsListandallurgentapplicationstotheDivision,includingthoseundertheCrimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006.TheCommonLawDivisionjudgesarealsotheprincipaljudicialresourcefortheCourtofCriminalAppeal.Thetaskofappropriatelybalancingandre-balancingtheallocationofCommonLawDivisionjudgestoalltheseareasofworkischallenging.
Figure3.4Common Law Division pending civil caseloads at 31 December
1,74
2
913
2,65
5
1,93
8
1,01
2
2,95
0
2,14
0
1,12
4
3,26
4
0
3,000
2,000
4,000
1,000
Contested/defended cases
Uncontested cases Total
2017 2018 2019
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Figure3.5Common Law Division civil lists – achievements against national benchmarks for age of pending cases
90%
100%
70%
86%
68%
86%
0%
100%
National benchmark Achieved in 2018 Achieved in 2019
Up to 12 months old Up to 24 months old
Figure3.6Listings for hearing – Common Law Division civil hearings
1,00
8
997 1,
107
0
1,500
1,000
500
2017 2018 2019
2017 2018 2019
Equity DivisionThefollowinganalysisoftheoperationaltrendswithintheEquityDivisiondoesnotincludeuncontestedprobatecases.Thevolumeofuncontestedprobatecasesissolargethat,ifincluded,itwouldmasktheimportanttrendsforallothercasesintheEquityDivision.Uncontestedprobatecasesarediscussedseparatelyattheendofthissection.
Therewere4,253filingsintheDivisionduring2019,anincreaseof3%overthenumberin2018(4,128).AsubstantialfilingincreaseoccurredintheCorporationsList(wheretypicallyover80%ofcasesarecasemanagedandfinalisedbytheRegistrarinEquitywithoutrequiringanylistingbeforeajudge).SmallerincreasesoccurredintheProtectiveList,TechnologyandConstructionListandAdmiraltyList.FilingsreducedinallotherLists,withtheEquityGeneralListshowingasubstantialreduction.
ThedisposalratefortheDivisionwas2%higherin2019thanin2018,increasingfrom4,204to4,278.ThelargestincreasewasintheCorporationsList,reflectingthehighfilingrateandrelativelyshortdisposaltimesforwinding-upapplications(whichwasthemajorareaofincreasedfilings).SmallerincreaseswereintheTechnologyandConstructionList,theProtectiveListandcontestedprobatecases.The4,278disposalsin2019included656casesthathadaleastonelistingforhearing.
Overall,thenumberofpendingcasesintheEquityDivisiondecreasedbyonly13casesduring2019(seeFigure3.7).ThelargestdecreasewasintheEquityGeneralList(particularlyforfamilyprovisioncases).TheareasofgreatestincreaseweretheTechnologyandConstructionList,CorporationsListandRealPropertyList.
TheJusticeLinksystemisusedtoreporttheageofpendingcivilcases(seeFigure3.8).ThenationalbenchmarksaresetbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services.TheageprofileoftheEquityDivision’spendingcaseloadshowedsignificantimprovementduring2014,whenauditingenabledalargenumberofinactivecasestobefinallyclosed.Auditingcontinuedthroughtoearly2016butresultedinonlyasmallnumberofcaseclosuresduring2015and2016.TheageprofileofEquityDivisioncasesattheendofDecember2019isshownatFigure3.8.During2019,theproportionoftheDivision’scaseloadwithin12monthsofagereducedfrom67%to65%,andtheproportionwithin24monthsofagereducedfrom87%to86%.Overtheyear,thenumberofcasesonhandandolderthan24monthsincreasedfrom378to399.
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Thelistingdelayrangedbetween2.3and7.2monthsduring2019for2-dayhearingsofnon-urgentGeneralListorProbateListcases.Bythestartofthe2020lawtermthelistingdelayforthesecaseshadsettledat6.7monthsfor2-dayhearings;for5-dayand10-dayhearingsitwas9.7months.SomejudgesoftheEquityDivisionhavebeenassignedforshortperiodstohearcasesinotherareasoftheCourtsothatlistingdelaysaremanagedacrossallareasofwork.
TheJusticeLinksystemdoesnotprovidereportsregardingthematterslistedforhearing,noraretheremanuallymaintainedstatisticsonthisaspectforEquityDivisioncases,soanalysisoftheoutcomesofthelistedhearingscannotbepresented.
TheEquityDivisiondoesnothaveageneralpracticeofover-listingmatters.Runninglistsoccuroneweekpermonthforfamilyprovisioncases;thesecasesarenotgivenspecificlistingdatesuntiltheweekbeforetherunninglist,butallcasesthatarereadytoproceedintherunninglistweekareusuallyheardthatweek.
UncontestedprobateapplicationsarehandledbytheCourt’sregistrars–theseapplicationsareforgrantsofprobateorlettersofadministration,orforresealofprobategrantsmadeoutsideNSW.Atotalof27,438applicationswerefiledduring2019(anincreaseof3%overthenumberfiledduring2018),being:
• 24,672forgrantsofprobate• 2,387forgrantsoflettersofadministration• 379forresealsofprobategrantedelsewhere.
Ifanapplicationmeetsallproceduralrequirementswhenlodged,agrantwillbemadeoninitialprocessing.Thewaitingtimerangedbetween4and19workingdaysduring2019forinitialprocessingofgrantapplications,settlingat14workingdaysbythestartofthe2020lawterm.
Figure3.7Equity Division pending civil caseloads at 31 December
1,4
94
35
8
1,1
18
2,9
70
1,4
17
33
8
1,1
54
2,9
09
1,3
15
37
2
1,2
09
2,8
96
0
3,000
2,000
1,000
General List Corporations List
Other specialised
lists
Total
2017 2018 2019
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 2018 Achieved in 2019
90%
100%
67%
87%
65%
86%
0%
100%
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TIMELINESS
Measurement against benchmarksTheCourt’sperformanceindealingwithcasesinatimelywayisreportedintermsoftheageofthependingcaseload.MeasurementoftheagedistributionwithinapendingcaseloadhelpstheCourttoassessmorequicklywhetherdelayreductionstrategiesaresuccessfulandtoidentifyareaswherefurthercasemanagementwouldbebeneficial.
Courtsandotherorganisationsmayusedifferentmethodstomeasuretheageofcasesorthetimelinessofcasehandling,andthiscanproducestatisticsthatarenotnecessarilycomparable.Tocitecriminalcasesasanexample,somecourtsreportperformancebymeasuringthetimebetweencommittalandthecommencementoftrial,whiletheAustralianBureauofStatisticsproducesnationalstatisticsthatmeasurethetimefromcommittaltoeitheracquittalorsentencing.Unlessnotedotherwise,theinformationinAppendix(I)concerningageofpendingcasesusesthesamedefinitionsofcommencementandfinalisationasareusedbyProductivityCommissioninitsReport on Government Services.
Appendix(I)showsthepositionthisCourtreachedat31Decemberforeachreportedyearwithregardtotheageofitspendingcaseload.Forcriminalmatters(includingcriminalappeals)themethodofmeasurementalignswiththemethodusedbytheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services,exceptwherecasesaredivertedtotheMentalHealthReviewTribunal.FortheCourtofAppeal,thereportingmethodalignswiththemethodsusedbytheProductivityCommissionbutisconfinedtothosecaseslodgedintheCourtofAppeal(whereastheProductivityCommission’sfigurescoverallcivilcasesthatareappellateinnature,notjustthoselodgedintheCourtofAppeal).ForcivilcasesintheCommonLawandEquityDivisions,theCourt’sreportingdiffersfromtheProductivityCommission’smethodsinthreeways:firstly,theCourtreportsseparatelyforeachDivision;secondly,forcasesthatareappellateinnaturebutheardintheCommonLaworEquityDivision,theCourtreportsthosecaseswithin
theappropriateDivisionandnotincombinationwithCourtofAppealcases;andthirdly,theCourtreportsallpendingcases,whereastheProductivityCommission’scountingrulesallowforexclusionofsomeparticularcasetypesandpendingcasesthathavebeeninactiveforatleast12months.
Appendix(I)allowscomparisonoftheCourt’spositionwiththenationalbenchmarksfor‘backlogs’assetbytheProductivityCommission.ThosebenchmarksareapplicabletoAustralia’ssupremecourtsanddistrict/countycourts,regardlessofthecase-mixofthosecourts.Withregardtocriminalnon-appealcases,therangeofchargesroutinelybroughtincriminallistsofsupremecourtsvariesacrossthecountry.ThisCourthearsonlycriminalcasesinvolvingchargesofmurderormanslaughterorwherethereisotherwisethepotentialforalifesentencetobeimposed;forsuchcasesa12-monthtimeframefromcommittaltosentencingischallenging.Withregardtocivilnon-appealcases,itisworthnotingthateverysupremecourtinthecountryhasdifficultymeetingthebacklogbenchmarks(seeTable7A.21ofthelatestReport on Government ServicespublishedbytheProductivityCommission).
ThisisthetenthyearofreportingthesizeandageprofileofthecivilcaseloadsoftheCommonLawandEquityDivisionsusingdataextractedfromtheNSWcourts’caseinformationsystem,JusticeLink.Theextractionofdatawascontinuallyrefinedfrom2009throughto2012,atwhichpointtheCourtobtainedreportsthatwerebetterabletoidentifyinactivecivilcases.From2012to2016theCourtauditeditscivilcaseloadtoidentifythemanyinactivecasesthathadaccumulatedsince2009.AuditingofbacklogswassubstantiallycompletedfortheCommonLawDivisionbytheendof2014,andfortheEquityDivisionbyearly2016.Weestimatenearly5,000inactivecivilcaseswereclosedasaresultofthatauditing,andthatshouldbetakenintoaccountwhenmakinganyanalysisofthechangesinsizeandageprofileoftheCourt’scivilcaseloadsince2010.TheCourtcontinuestoaudititscaseloadroutinelytoidentifyinactivecasesthatshouldbedismissedorclosed.
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TheReport on Government Servicesalsoreportsoncasefinalisationtimes,butthatmeasureisnotincludedhere.TheCourtpreferstheageprofileofpendingcases(theProductivityCommission’s‘backlog’concept)asareportingmeasurebecauseithasalogicallinktodesiredoutcomes:whencourtsfinaliseanincreasednumberofagedcases,theageprofileofthependingcaseloadusuallyimprovesoverthatperiodwhereasfinalisation-timeresultsusuallyworsen.
Listing delaysThereportedlistingdelaysindicatethetimelinesswithwhichtheCourtcanallocatenon-urgenthearingsforvarioustypesofcasesthathavebeenassessedasreadyforhearing,providingthepartiesarewillingtoselectfromthefirstavailablegroupofhearingdatesofferedbytheCourt.Listingdelayschangeduringtheyearandupdatedinformationcanbesoughtfromtheregistry.
ThetableoflistingdelaysinAppendix(I)showsthelistingdelaysthatappliedatthestartofthenewlawtermfollowingthecloseofthereportingyear.Thelistingdelaysrefertohearing-timerequirementsthatareconsideredrepresentativeortypicalofthevariousareasoftheCourt,asexplainedinthefootnotestothetable.(Notethatduring2016,therepresentativehearing-timerequirementforCriminalListcaseswaschangedfroma3-weektrialtoa4-weektrial.)
Thisstandardisedmeasurementoflistingdelays,incontrasttomeasurementoftheageofpendingcasesorcasefinalisationtimes,focusesontheCourt’smanagementofitsownresourcestodelivertimelyhearings.Itisdistinctfromotherfactorsthatlengthencasefinalisationtime,suchasdelaysinservingcourtdocuments,delayscausedbytheneedtojoinadditionalpartiestoproceedings,timetakenupwithinterlocutoryissuesorappeals,timeneededforpartiestopreparetheirevidence,timethatelapseswhilepartiesattemptmediation,andthedelayscausedwhenpartiesrequestatrialdatethatislaterthanthefirstavailable.
FortherepresentativehearinglengthsdescribedinAppendix(I),overthe12monthsleadinguptothestartofthe2020lawterm:
• CourtofCriminalAppealhearingdelaysincreasedslightlyto3.4months
• CourtofAppealhearingdelaysremainedrelativelystableatanoptimallevel,withadelayof1.8months
• criminaltriallistingdelaysdecreasedto5.0months• BailsListhearingdelayshavebecomefarless
volatilesincetheintroductionofthenewPracticeNote,andadelayofaround2weekshasbeentypicalsinceJune2019
• CommonLawDivisioncivilhearingdelayshavelengthenedconsiderably,increasingfrom6.0monthsto12.0months
• EquityDivisioncivilhearingdelaysincreasedto6.7months.
TheCommonLawDivisionusesover-listingtomakemosteffectiveuseofjudicialtimeandmanagelistingdelays.TheEquityDivisionusesrunninglistsforfamilyprovisioncasesoneweekpermonthforthesamepurposebutdoesnothaveageneralpracticeofover-listingmatters.
AllocationofsomeworktoactingjudgesassiststheCourttomanageandbalancelistingdelaysacrossallareasofwork.Withoutthisability,longerdelayswouldhavebeenlikelyinoneormoreareasofwork.
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USE OF ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
TheSupremeCourtsupportsmediationasamethodofalternativedisputeresolutionforSupremeCourtcivilproceedings.Litigantsinanycontestedcivilcase(includingappeals)canconsiderusingmediation.Mediationisgenerallyinapplicableforcaseswherenodefendantconteststheclaimandinapplicationsforanuncontestedgrantofprobate,foradoptionofchildren,forwinding-upofcompanies,forrecoveryofproceedsofcrimeorundertheCrimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006,andforthemiscellaneousapplicationswhereonlyadministrativeprocessingisrequired.Forothercivilcasesmediationisconsideredgenerallyapplicable,althoughindividualcasesmayhavecircumstancesthatmakemediationinadvisableorinappropriate.
Since2014,inadditiontoitslong-standingcourt-annexedmediationprogram,judicialsettlementconferenceshavebeenusedinfamilyprovisioncaseswheretheestateisvaluedatlessthan$500,000orwhenthepartiesjointlyrequestone.TheseconferencesareconductedbyJusticeHallenandtimedtooccuratanearlystageofcasemanagementtoencouragesettlementassoonaspossibleandminimiselitigationcosts.Thejudicialsettlementconferenceshavereducedthenumberofcasesgoingtothecourt-annexedmediationprogram,andneedtobetakenintoaccountwheninterpretingstatisticsconcerningtheCourt’suseofmediation,bothcourt-annexedandoverall.
During2019theregistryrecordedatotalnumberof1,407referralstomediation(court-annexedorprivate),whichwasa20%increasefromthe2018totalof1,169referrals.Thenumberofcourt-annexedmediationlistings(whichareconductedbytheCourt’sregistrars)increasedfrom428in2018to474in2019.Itispossiblethatthetotalnumberofreferralsdoesnotfullyincludetheuseofprivatemediationbecauseitisnotessentialforlitigantstoobtainaformalreferralformediationtouseprivatemediation,nor(wherenoreferralorderhasbeenmade)todisclosetotheCourtthatprivatemediationhasbeenused.
During2019anestimated4,646civilcaseswerefiledthatwereoftypesforwhichmediationwasconsideredgenerallyapplicable.Thisisadecreaseof2%fromtheestimated4,726casesfiledduring2018.
The‘mediationreferralindex’isthetotalnumberofcasesreferredformediationinagivenyear,expressedasapercentageofthetotalnumberofcases(oftypeswheremediationisconsideredtobegenerallyapplicable)commencedinthatyear.For2019themediationreferralindexwas30.3%,upfrom24.7%for2018.
Court-annexedmediationsareconductedbythoseSupremeCourtregistrarswhoareadditionallyqualifiedasmediators.Ofthe474caseslistedforcourt-annexedmediationduringtheyear,12casesdidnotproceedtotheirallottedmediationsession.Ofthe462casesthatdidproceedtoacourt-annexedmediationsession,thesettlementratewas42%.TheCourthasastringentconventionforrecordingcasesas“settledatmediation”:thepartiesmusthaveagreedtofinalisingorders(orhavedraftedheadsofagreement)bythecloseofthemediationprocedure.Inadditiontothecasesnotedas‘settledatmediation’,afurther31%ofcaseswererecordedas‘stillnegotiating’atthecloseofthemediationsession,andmanyofthosearelikelytohavesettledsubsequently.Ifpartiesagreetosettletheirdisputeatanytimeafterthecloseofthemediationsession,thosesettlementsarenotrecordedas‘settledatmediation’eventhoughthemediationproceduremayhavebeenfundamentaltothepartieseventuallyreachingsettlement.Thestatisticsforthecourt-annexedmediationprogramarecollatedindependentlyoftheJusticeLinksystem,whichisnotsufficientlyreliableforthatpurpose.Therearenostatisticsonsettlementratesforcasesreferredtoprivatemediators.
Thewaitingtimerangedbetween2and9weeksduring2019fornon-urgentcourt-annexedmediationsessions.Thewaitingtimesettledat6weeksforthestartofthe2020lawterm.WheretheCourtordersanexpeditedcourt-annexedmediation,thewaitingtimedoesnotapply.Thewaitingtimecanchangeduringtheyear,andupdatedinformationispublisheddailyinthecourtlist.
UseofarbitrationforSupremeCourtcasesremainspossiblebutisnowunlikelybecausethetypesofcasesthattypicallyhadbeenreferredtoarbitrationnolongercometotheSupremeCourt.Thenumberoflistedarbitrationsdeclinedrapidlyafter2003,andthemostrecentreferralofaSupremeCourtcasetoarbitrationwasin2006(onereferralonlyinthatyear).
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4 EDUCATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
• Judicialofficereducation(informationsuppliedbytheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales)
• Publiceducationprogram
• TheroleoftheMediaManager
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JUDICIAL OFFICER EDUCATION
Manyjudicialofficersupdatedanddevelopedtheirskillsandknowledgeduringtheyearbyattendingconferences,seminarsandworkshops.SomeoftheprogramsaretailoredspecificallytotheCourt’sneeds,whileotherstargetthewiderlegalcommunity.Anoverviewofsomeoftheeducationalactivitiescompletedduring2019appearsbelow.Foramorecomprehensivelistofactivities,pleaserefertoAppendix(III):OtherJudicialActivity.
Domestic judicial education activities undertaken in 2019During2019,judgesattended88daysofface-to-facejudicialeducationorganisedbytheJudicialCommissionofNSW,anaverageof2daysofjudicialeducationperjudge.Participantsareaskedtoratethepracticalvalueofeacheducationeventtotheirroleasajudge.Theoverallratingsin2019(fromanaverageresponserateof35%)revealthat88%ofjudgesfindtheSupremeCourt’seducationprogramrelevantandausefulsourceofknowledgeandideas.
TheCourt’sAnnualConference,heldinAugust,includedsessionsonlegislativeintention,privateinternationallaw,non-publicationandtake-downorders,newjurydirectionlaws,criminallaw,equity/commerciallaw,administrativelaw,financialregulation,artificialintelligenceandanartificiallyintelligentfuture.Forty-onejudicialofficersandthePrincipalRegistrarattended.
SupremeCourtjudgesalsoattendedtwocross-jurisdictionalseminarsthroughouttheyear.TwoattendedaseminarinAugustonForensic Science in the CourtroompresentedbyvisitingDrLucinaHackman.Further,threejudgesattendedaseminarRisky Business,asessionfocusingonmentalwellnesspresentedbyMrAllanSparkesCVOAMVA.
TheNgaraYuraCommitteepresentedvariousprogramsthroughouttheyear:
• InJune,threeSupremeCourtjudgesattendedtheNgara Yura Program: Exchanging Ideas: First Nations Consensus in Constitutional Reform, Nation Building and Treaty Making Processes.Thisprograminvolvedaconversationonthemakingofthe2017UluruStatementandthemechanismsusedtoengageindialogue,andheardfromspeakerscloselyconnectedtotheprocess.Judicialofficers,lawyersandAboriginalcommunitymemberscametogethertodiscusstheprocessesofnation-buildingandtreaty-makingthatarecurrentlybeingundertakeninanumberofcommunities,andtocanvassthechallengesfordesignofsuchprocessesthatcanbeinclusiveandfacilitatecommunityconsensus.
• InOctober,onejudgeattendedaseminaronThe Wotton Decision,aclassactionbroughtagainsttheStateofQueenslandandtheCommissionerofPoliceforQueenslandthatallegedcontraventionsoftheRacial Discrimination Act 1975(Cth)thatoccurredarisingoutoftheQueenslandPoliceServiceconductonPalmIslandfollowingthedeathincustodyofanAboriginalman.
• InNovember,twojudgesattendedaprivate,behind-the-scenestourofatemporaryexhibit,Living Language: Country, Culture, CommunityattheStateLibraryofNSW.Theexhibitexploredsharedstoriesofstrength,traumaandjoyandhighlightedthecomplexhistoricalrelationshipsbetweendifferentlanguagegroupsandtheimportanceoflanguageinpreservingculture.
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ThreeSupremeCourtjudgesattendedtheNationalJudicialOrientationPrograminGlenelg,SouthAustraliainApril2019,andoneattendedtheNationalJudicialOrientationProgramontheGoldCoast,QueenslandinNovember2019.Thefive-dayorientationprogramassistsnewlyappointedjudicialofficerswiththeirtransitiontojudicialofficebyfacilitatingthedevelopmentandrefinementoftheskillsandknowledgenecessaryforeffectivejudging.ItisconductedbytheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliawiththeassistanceoftheJudicialCommissionofNSWandtheAustralianInstituteofJudicialAdministration.
TheCourtalsocontinuedtoworkwiththeJudicialCommissiontoensuretheCriminal Trials Courts Bench Book,theSentencing Bench BookandtheCivil Trials Bench Bookwereregularlyupdatedbyjudgestoreflectdevelopmentsinthelawandsentencingpractice.
Inaddition,thereareanumberofonlineresourcespermanentlyavailabletojudgesoftheSupremeCourt.SeminarpapersandotherresearchtoolsareavailableonlineviatheJIRSdatabaseandareupdatedregularly.Wherepossible,SupremeCourtjudgesarealsoabletoviewandparticipateinprogramsremotelyeitherviathelivestreamingofcertainprogramsorviewinganumberofprogramsthathavebeenrecorded.
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM
In2019,numeroussecondaryschoolstudentgroupsandinterestedmembersofthepublicvisitedtheCourtindependentlywiththeassistanceofafree,self-guidedapp.ThefreeappguidedvisitorsthroughaspeciallyselectedroutehighlightingthemostlegallyandvisuallysignificantaspectsoftheLawCourtsBuilding,whilealsoprovidinginsightsintotheSupremeCourt’swork.TheappallowsvisitorsanopportunitytovisittheCourtattimesthatsuittheirneedswhileensuringtheyareequippedwithinformationnecessarytoindependentlyorientthemselveswithintheBuildingandconfidentlyundertakecourtroomobservation.
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THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA MANAGER
TheCourt’sMediaManageristheprincipalmediaspokespersonforthesuperiorNSWcourtsandprovidesaprofessionalcourt-medialiaisonservice.ThemajorroleofthepositionistoprovidethemediawithinformationaboutcourtproceedingsintheSupremeCourt,theLandandEnvironmentCourt(LEC)andtheIndustrialRelationsCommission(IRC).TheMediaManagerworkswiththemediatoensurethatjudicialdecisionsarecorrectlyreportedtothecommunityandpromotesinitiativestakenbythecourtstoenhanceaccesstojustice.TheMediaManagerisalsoresponsibleforensuringthatmediaoutletsarealerttoanynon-publicationandsuppressionordersissuedinproceedings,andthattheyarefamiliarwiththetermsandimpactsoftheseorders.Thisisimportantbecausethemedia’sfailuretoacknowledgeoradheretosuchordersintheircoveragecouldcompromiseproceedings.
During2019,theMediaManagercompleted5,666requestsforinformation,upfrom5,613thepreviousyear.Ofthese:
• 90%relatedtoSupremeCourtmatters• 10%relatedtotheLEC,IRCandothercourts
andtribunals.
SydneymetropolitanjournalistsfrommajornewspapersandradioandTVstationsremainedthemajorusersoftheMediaManager’sservices,accountingfornearly70%ofrequests.Fewerthan12%ofuserswerefromNSWregionalnewspapers,radioandTVstations,andlessthan1%wasfromsuburbanSydneynewspapers.Theremaining17%ofenquirieswerefrominterstateoroverseasjournalists,writersforspecialist/tradepublications,authors,lawyers,studentsormembersofthepublic.Duringthereportingyear,theMediaManagerreceived13mediaapplicationstofilmfinaldecisionsunderthebroadcastingjudgmentslegislation,whichincludesapresumptioninfavourofpermittingrecordingandbroadcastofjudgmentremarksthatdetermineproceedings.Allbutonerequestwasgranted.Filmingoccurredin11criminalsentencesandoneclassactioncivildecision.
Inadditiontoreactivework,theMediaManagerundertookproactivetaskssuchasorganisingmediainterviewswithJusticeRuthMcColl,markingherretirementand100yearsofwomeninthelaw,andassistingwiththeSupremeCourt’ssocialmediaactivity.
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5 OTHER ASPECTS OF THE COURT’S WORK
• UniformCivilProcedureRules
• LawCourtsLibrary
• AdmissiontothelegalprofessionandappointmentofPublicNotaries
• AdmissionunderthemutualrecognitionActs
• AdministrationoftheCostsAssessmentScheme
• ProBonoScheme
• JudicialAssistanceProgram
39
UNIFORM CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES
TheCivil Procedure Act 2005andUniformCivilProcedureRules2005commencedoperationin2005.TheUniformRulesCommitteewasestablishedundersection8andSchedule2oftheAct.TheChiefJustice(whoactsaschair)andthePresidentoftheCourtofAppealareex officiomembersoftheCommittee.TheotherSupremeCourtrepresentativesontheCommitteeduring2019wereJusticeAdamsonandJusticeLindsay.AswellasconsideringamendmentstotheRulestheUniformRulesCommitteeapprovesformsforuseincivilproceedingsundersection17oftheAct.
LAW COURTS LIBRARY
TheLawCourtsLibraryisoneofthepremierlawlibrariesinAustralia;elementsofitscollectionpredatetheformationoftheSupremeCourtin1824.TheLibraryisalegalresourceandinformationcentreforalljudicialofficers,courtstaffandregistrarsofthevariouscourtsintheLawCourtsBuilding.
Legalauthoritiesandaccurateinformationareprovidedtosupportthetimelyandeffectivedecision-makingofthecourts.In2019,librariansansweredmorethan1,430requestsfromtheSupremeCourt,andover3,000legalresourceswereborrowed.LawCourtsLibraryreaderserviceslibrarianscontinuedtoprovidesupportforcourtuseofonlineresourcesande-publicationsoniPadsandothermobiledevices.
Inaddition,2,503SupremeCourt(includingCourtofAppealandCourtofCriminalAppeal)decisionswerepublishedduring2019ontheNSWCaselawwebsite,whichismanagedandsupportedbytheLibrary.
TheNSWDepartmentofCommunitiesandJustice(formerlytheNSWDepartmentofJustice)andtheFederalCourtofAustraliajointlyfundtheLawCourtsLibrary.TheoperationsoftheLibraryareoverseenbytheLibraryAdvisoryCommittee,consistingofthreejudgesfromtheFederalCourtofAustraliaandthreejudgesfromtheSupremeCourtofNSW.
TheCommitteeprovidesadviceonmattersofcollectiondevelopmentandserviceprovision.
During2019,theSupremeCourtrepresentativesontheAdvisoryCommitteewereJusticeBasten,JusticeMacfarlanandActingJusticeEmmett.
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ADMISSION TO THE LEGAL PROFESSION AND APPOINTMENT OF PUBLIC NOTARIESTheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoardisresponsiblefor:
• determiningtheeligibilityandsuitabilityofpeopleseekingtobeadmittedasalawyerinNSW
• accreditingacademiclawcoursesandpracticallegaltrainingcoursesinNSW
• registering,enrollingandexaminingstudentsintheBoard’sownDiplomainLawcourse
• appointingpublicnotariesinNSW• maintainingtheRollofLawyersandtheRollof
PublicNotariesinNSW.
ConstitutedbytheLegal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014,theBoardisaself-fundingstatutorycorporation.MembershipoftheBoardcomprises:
• theChiefJusticeofNSW• threeJudgesoftheSupremeCourtnominated
bytheChiefJustice• anomineeoftheAttorneyGeneral• nomineesoftheCommitteeofNSWLawDeans,
theBarCouncil,andtheLawSocietyCouncil.
During2019,themembersoftheBoardwere:
• TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice(Chair)
• TheHonourableActingJusticeEmmettAO(PresidingMember)
• TheHonourableJusticePayne(DeputyPresidingMember)
• TheHonourableJusticeLindsay• MrGarryMcGrathSC(toDecember2019)• MsMargaretAllarsSC• MrWen-Ts’aiLim• MrJohnDobson• ProfessorLesleyHitchens• DrJacobCampbell(toOctober2019)• ProfessorMichaelQuinlan• MsPhillipaHetherton(fromNovember2019)
AdetailedaccountoftheBoard’sactivitiesandachievementscanbefoundinitsAnnualReport,whichisavailablefordownloadfromwww.lpab.justice.nsw.gov.au.
ADMISSION UNDER THE MUTUAL RECOGNITION ACTS
TheRegistryliaiseswiththeLegalProfessionAdmissionBoardinperformingthetaskofmanagingapplicationsfromlegalpractitionersforadmissionunderthemutualrecognitionActs:fromNewZealandlegalpractitionersundertheTrans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act 1997,andfromAustralianlegalpractitionersfromotherStatesandTerritoriesundertheMutual Recognition Act 1992.
In2019,71NewZealandpractitionerswereenrolledundertheTrans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act.Incomparison,therewere66Trans-Tasmanadmissionsin2018and58in2017.
ThenumberofAustralianlegalpractitionersenrolledundertheMutual Recognition Act 1992remainsnegligibleafterlegislativechangestoallowmostlawyerstopractiseseamlesslythroughoutAustralia.
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ADMINISTRATION OF THE COSTS ASSESSMENT SCHEME
TheCostsAssessmentSchemeisthemechanismthroughwhichclientsandpractitionerscanresolvedisputesaboutcostsandalsoquantifycostsordersmadebyaNSWcourtortribunal.TheScheme’sprocessesaregovernedbytheapplicableNSWlegalprofessionlegislationthatwasinforcewhenthelitigation,underwhichthecostsdisputearoseorthecostsorderwasmade,commenced.
TheChiefJusticeappointsindependentCostsAssessorstodetermineapplicationsforcostsassessmentandreview.AllcostsassessorsarelegallyqualifiedandmusthavebeenapractisingAustralianlawyerforatleast5yearstobeconsideredeligibleforappointment.
TheCostsAssessmentsectionoftheRegistryundertakestheday-to-dayadministrationoftheSchemeundertheguidanceoftheManager,CostsAssessment.
During2019,1,321costsassessmentapplicationswerelodged.Ofthese,580(44%)relatedtocostsbetweenpartiestocostsorders;162(12%)werebroughtbyclientsagainstpractitioners,and442(33%)werebroughtbypractitionerstorecoveragainstclients.Therewere137reviews(10%).
Thereviewprocessisundertakenbyareviewpanelcomprisingtwoseniorassessors.Thereviewpanelgenerallyconsidersthematerialbeforetheassessorandcanaffirmorvarytheoriginalassessment.IftheapplicationismadeundertheLegal Profession Act 2004(LPA)acostsassessmentdeterminationcanbeappealedtotheDistrictCourtasofrightonquestionsoflawandotherwisebyleave.Althoughnowrepealed,theLPAstillappliestoassessmentswherethematter(inwhichthecostsorderwasobtained)wascommencedbefore1July2015orwherefirstinstructionsfromaclientweregivenbefore1July2015.
TheLegal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014(asamended)incorporatestherecommendationsoftheChiefJustice’sReviewconcerningcostsassessmentreviews.Formattersfallingunderthenewlegislation,anappealisnowtotheDistrictCourt(leaveisrequirediftheamountindisputeislessthan$25,000)ortotheSupremeCourt(leaveisrequirediftheamountindisputeislessthan$100,000).
TheChiefJusticeappointstheCostsAssessmentRulesCommittee(CARC).Since1July2015,withthecommencementoftheLegal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014,theCARCwasreconstitutedinthelegislationtoincludeaSupremeCourtJudge,aDistrictCourtJudge,andrepresentativesfromtheOfficeoftheLegalServicesCommissioner,theLawSocietyofNSWandtheNSWBarAssociationaswellasrepresentativesfromthepanelofcostsassessors.TheCARCischairedbyJusticeBrereton.
TheCostsAssessmentUserGroupmeetsasnecessarytodiscussissuesoncostsassessmentfromauser’sperspective.TheUserGroupmetregularlyduring2019todiscussprogressionofanewcostschapterintheJudicialCommission’sCivil Bench Bookandrequirementsforadditionalapproveduniformcivilforms,andtoplaneducationaleventsforcostsassessors.TheGroupalsodiscussedwhencostsassessmentdeterminationscanandcannotincludeinterestonunpaidlegalcosts.
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PRO BONO SCHEME
TheCourtestablishedtheProBonoSchemewithsupportfromtheNewSouthWalesBarAssociationandLawSocietyofNewSouthWalesin2001.
TheSchemeoperatesinaccordancewithPart7Division9oftheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005andenablesunrepresentedlitigantstobereferredtoabarristerand/orsolicitoroncetheCourtdeterminestheyaredeservingofassistance.
During2019,theCourtmade27referralsundertheScheme:9referralsweremadeinCourtofAppealcasesand18weremadeincasesfromeithertheCommonLaworEquityDivision.TheScheme’ssuccessdependsuponthecontinuedgoodwillofbarristersandsolicitorswhohaveindicatedawillingnesstoparticipateintheScheme.TheCourtgratefullyacknowledgesandextendsitssincerethankstothosewhosupporttheSchemebyvolunteeringtheirservices.
JUDICIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
AJudicialAssistanceProgramwaslaunchedtohelpNewSouthWalesjudicialofficersmeetthedemandsoftheirworkwhilstmaintaininggoodhealthandwell-being.TheProgramprovidesfor24-houraccesstoaprofessional,confidentialcounsellingserviceandfreeannualhealthassessments.TheCourtadministersthisProgramonbehalfofalljudicialofficersinNSW.
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6 APPENDICES
I. Courtstatistics–comprehensivetableofstatistics
II. TheCourt’scommitteesandusergroups
III. Otherjudicialactivity:conferences,speaking,engagements,publications,appointmentstolegalandculturalorganisations,delegationsandinternationalassistanceandcommissionsinoverseascourts
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APPENDIX (I): COURT STATISTICS – COMPREHENSIVE TABLE OF STATISTICS (to be read in conjunction with Chapter 3)
• 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.ThisisbecausecasescommencedinonecasemanagementlistorDivisionmaysubsequentlybetransferredtoanotherlistorDivisionforfurthercasemanagementanddisposal.
Thestatisticsfor2015throughto2019forcivilcasesintheCommonLawDivisionandfortheEquityDivision(otherthantheAdoptionsList,ProtectiveListandcontestedProbateListcases)havebeenextractedfromtheJusticeLinksystem.
ThestatisticsfortheCourtofAppeal,CourtofCriminalAppeal,CriminalList,AdoptionsList,ProtectiveListandcontestedProbateListmattersarenotsuppliedthroughtheJusticeLinksystem;theycontinuetobemanuallycollatedandaresubjecttoauditandrevision.
“n/a”–figuresnotavailableornotseparatelyreported
“-” –itemnotapplicable
“0” –zerocount
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COURT OF APPEAL 1,2
Filings (net new cases) 3 379 397 354 355 366
Filings of appeals / applications for relief 255 261 241 228 235
Filings of applications for leave to appeal 4 134 144 121 139 135
Disposals (final disposals) 5 433 423 380 361 339
Disposals of appeals / applications for relief 312 277 257 249 213
Disposals of applications for leave to appeal 131 154 131 124 130
Pending cases at 31 December 236 210 184 178 205
Appeals / applications for relief 173 157 141 120 142
Applications for leave to appeal 63 53 43 58 63
1 Thesestatisticsexcludenoticesofintentiontoappeal.Anoticeofintentiontoappealdoesnotcommenceasubstantiveappealorapplication.
2 ThesestatisticscoverCourtofAppealcasesonly.Theyarenotcomparableto‘civilappeal’casestatisticsreportedwithintheProductivityCommission’sReport on Government Services,whichincludeallcivilcasesofanappellatenature,includingappealsandreviewsdealtwithintheCommonLawDivisionorEquityDivision.
3 Whenanoticeofappealisfiledafterasuccessfulapplicationforleavetoappeal,theappealandtheleaveapplicationarecountedasonecase(nottwo).Forthisreason,thefiguresforfilingsofnoticesofappeal(andapplicationsforrelief)andfilingsofapplicationsforleave,combined,exceedthenumberofnetnewcases.
4 Thisitemincludesnotonlyleaveapplications,butalsoapplicationswherepartieshaveelectedtohaveaconcurrenthearingofboththeleaveapplicationandtheappeal(ifleaveisgranted).
5 Whereanappealisprecededbyagrantofleave,thisiscountedasonecontinuouscase,withafinaldisposalbeingcountedonlywhenthesubstantiveappealisfinalised.Forthisreason,inanyyear,thefiguresfordisposalsofnoticesofappeal(andapplicationsforrelief)anddisposalsofapplicationsforleave,combined,exceedthenumberoffinaldisposals.
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL 1
Filings 342 363 380 407 352
Disposals 400 386 395 366 368
Pendingcasesat31December 168 145 130 171 155
1 ThesestatisticsexcludeappealsfromdecisionsoftheNSWStateParoleAuthority.Therewere7,8,2,0and2applicationslodgedintheCourtofCriminalAppealfortheyears2015to2019,respectively,forreviewofParoleBoarddecisions.
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COMMON LAW DIVISION – Criminal 1, 2
Criminal List
Filings(registrations)3 118 102 112 93 103
Disposals4 88 105 105 99 106
Pendingcasesat31December 115 112 119 113 110
Bails List 5, 6
Filings(applicants) 4,401 3,996 3,953 4,545 2,648
Disposals(applicants) 4,201 3,991 3,984 4,353 3,433
Pendingapplicantsat31December 761 742 707 893 122
1 Inallyears,thefiguresexcludemattersunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001,applicationsforre-determinationofalifesentence,andsummaryjurisdictioncases.Summaryjurisdictioncasesareincludedwithinthestatisticsfor‘othersummonscases’withintheCommonLawGeneralList(wheretheyaremanaged).
2 TheCourtusescountingrulesthatalignwithnationalcountingrules,exceptconcerningreferralsfromandtotheMentalHealthReviewTribunal(MHRT).WhenevertheCourtdeterminesthatanaccusedpersonisunfittoplead,itrefersthatpersontotheMHRT–theCourtrecordsthateventasacasedisposal.IftheMHRTsubsequentlydeterminesthatthepersonisfittostandtrial,theCourtrecordsthateventasanewcasecommencement.IftheMHRTdeterminesthattheaccusedpersonisunlikelytobefittostandtrialwithinthenext12monthsitnotifiestheCourt,whichthenobtainsadviceastowhethertheDirectorofPublicProsecutionsintendstotakefurtherproceedingsagainsttheaccused.IftheDirectorofPublicProsecutionsadvisesthattheproceedingsaretobetakenfurther,thentheCourtrecordsanewcasecommencement.
3 Thefiguresincludecommittalsfortrial/sentence,ex officioindictments,re-trialsorderedbytheCourtofCriminalAppealorHighCourt,mattersreferredfromtheMentalHealthReviewTribunal,transfersfromtheDistrictCourt,andre-activatedmatters(forexample,whereabenchwarrantisexecuted).
4 Disposalsarecountedatsentence,acquittalorotherfinaldisposal.Previouslydisposalswerecountedatverdict,pleaofguilty,orotherfinaldisposal.(‘Otherfinaldisposal’includesreferraltotheMentalHealthTribunal,nobill,deathoftheaccused,orderforabenchwarranttoissue,transfertoanothercourt,andotherfinalorders.)
5 ThefiguresforBailsListcasesnowcountthenumberofapplicants,notthenumberofapplications.AtaBailsListhearing,theCourtmaydealconcurrentlywithmultipleapplicationsforanyoneapplicant.From2016onwards,newreportshavebeenusedwhichextractdatafromtheJusticeLinksystem–itispossiblethatthesedonottakeintoaccountsomedataenteredretrospectively.
6 Thestatisticsfor2019arenotdirectlycomparabletopreviousyears.PracticeNoteSCCL11commencedon3June2019andsetoutanewpracticeandprocedureforpreparingandfilingapplicationsforhearingintheBailsList.Applicationsarenowacceptedonlywhentheyareaccompaniedbyallmaterialonwhichtheapplicantseekstorely,andwhentheapplicant’slegalrepresentation(orself-representation)isconfirmed.Consequently,sinceJune2019theoperationalfiguresarelowerastheynolongerincludeincompleteapplicationsthatwouldultimatelybewithdrawnordismissed.
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COMMON LAW DIVISION – Civil
Administrative Law List
Filings 134 127 121 152 115
Disposals 158 149 114 132 141
Pendingcasesat31December 91 70 79 100 78
Defamation List
Filings 47 69 54 39 11
Disposals 65 52 56 61 53
Pendingcasesat31December 65 84 85 65 24
Common Law General List (formerly the General Case Management List)
Filings 1,176 1,105 1,109 1,231 1,431
Contestedclaims 484 449 442 542 692
–personal injury 315 291 347 427 533
– other claims 169 158 95 155 159
Uncontestedclaims 169 185 194 214 237
ProceedsofCrimecases 120 93 108 123 146
Othersummonscases 403 378 365 352 356
Disposals 1,149 1,134 1,057 1,102 1,169
Contestedclaims 525 495 509 475 552
–personal injury 299 291 317 323 392
– other claims 226 204 192 152 160
Uncontestedclaims 109 154 114 151 177
ProceedsofCrimecases 77 97 85 110 108
Othersummonscases 438 388 349 366 332
Pending cases at 31 December 1,275 1,247 1,274 1,362 1,600
Contestedclaims 850 865 819 913 1,083
–personal injury 562 575 575 677 828
– other claims 288 290 244 236 255
Uncontestedclaims 94 69 99 105 112
ProceedsofCrimecases 176 173 200 215 255
Othersummonscases 155 140 156 129 150
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Possession List
Filings1 1,600 1,312 1,218 1,235 1,501
Disposals 1,592 1,376 1,250 1,207 1,292
Contested 100 61 76 46 68
Uncontested 1,492 1,315 1,174 1,161 1,224
Pending cases at 31 December 903 838 820 847 1,046
Contested 56 60 39 67 83
Uncontested 847 778 781 780 963
Professional Negligence List
Filings 127 150 180 214 214
Disposals 191 153 131 173 199
Pendingcasesat31December 301 301 364 420 445
High Risk Offender List 2
Filings - - - 48 54
Disposals - - - 36 60
Pendingcasesat31December - - - 29 22
Miscellaneous applications 3
Filings 454 453 481 633 500
Disposals 435 437 503 540 564
Pendingcasesat31December 32 52 33 127 49
COMMON LAW DIVISION TOTALS – Civil
Filings 3,538 3,216 3,163 3,552 3,826
Disposals 3,590 3,301 3,111 3,251 3,478
Pending cases at 31 December 2,667 2,592 2,655 2,950 3,264
1 AllPossessionListcasesareassumedtobeuncontestedatthetimeoffiling.Ifasubsequentdefenceorcross-claimisfiledthecaseislistedforcasemanagementandcountedasacontestedcase.
2 TheHighRiskOffenderListcommencedduring2018.SomecasescommencedearlierintheCommonLawGeneralListweretransferredtothisListforcasemanagementandfinaldisposal.
3 TheseincludeapplicationsundertheMutual Recognition (New South Wales) Act 1992orTrans-Tasman Mutual Recognition (New South Wales) Act 1996,applicationsforproductionorders,requestsforservicewithinNSWofdocumentsrelatedtocivilproceedingsbeingconductedoutsideNSW,andapplicationstoenforcejudgmentsgivenoutsideAustralia.
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
EQUITY DIVISION 1
Admiralty List
Filings 4 0 1 0 3
Disposals 1 4 0 2 2
Pendingcasesat31December 4 0 2 0 1
Adoptions List 2
Applications 160 198 222 242 224
Ordersmade 168 179 195 273 226
Pendingcasesat31December 48 67 94 63 60
Commercial List
Filings 155 147 155 196 171
Disposals 166 224 182 184 180
Pendingcasesat31December 282 223 200 222 221
Commercial Arbitration List
Filings 2 1 5 1 1
Disposals 1 2 2 6 1
Pendingcasesat31December 1 0 4 1 2
Corporations List
Filings 2,126 1,097 952 860 1,211
Judges’ list 111 137 185 172 205
Registrar’s list 2,015 960 767 688 1,006
Disposals 2,133 1,071 958 883 1,188
Judges’ list 138 138 191 184 251
Registrar’s list 1,995 933 767 699 937
Pendingcasesat31December 331 357 358 338 372
Judges’ list 65 96 128 154 148
Registrar’s list 266 261 230 184 224
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Equity General List
Filings 2,146 1,915 1,856 1,815 1,636
Family provision cases 972 1,018 973 962 878
Other cases 1,174 897 883 853 758
Disposals 3 2,207 2,058 1,774 1,910 1,724
Family provision cases 835 1,068 928 1,044 914
Other cases 1,372 990 846 866 810
Pendingcasesat31December 1,570 1,409 1,494 1,417 1,315
Family provision cases 554 492 544 470 417
Other cases 1,016 917 950 947 898
Probate (Contentious Matters) List
Filings 207 265 294 316 310
Disposals 187 244 246 300 308
Pendingcasesat31December 173 194 241 257 257
Protective List 4
Applications 107 83 110 102 123
Disposals 105 93 90 101 116
Pendingapplicationsat31December 35 25 45 46 51
Real Property List 5
Filings 150 394 406 409 382
Disposals 37 248 357 388 366
Pendingcasesat31December 141 292 310 310 333
Revenue List
Filings 22 26 8 24 14
Disposals 8 18 18 27 22
Pendingapplicationsat31December 29 36 27 26 18
Technology and Construction List
Filings 89 108 138 163 178
Disposals 114 139 125 130 145
Pendingcasesat31December 200 174 195 229 266
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2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
EQUITY DIVISION TOTALS
Filings 5,168 4,234 4,147 4,128 4,253
Disposals 5,127 4,280 3,947 4,204 4,278
Pending cases at 31 December 2,814 2,777 2,970 2,909 2,896
PROBATE – Applications lodged for grant of probate etc.6
26,408 26,243 27,294 26,538 27,438
1 Thefiguresreportedfor2015throughto2019havebeenextractedfromtheJusticeLinksystem,exceptforthefiguresfortheAdoptionsList,Probate(ContentiousMatters)ListandProtectiveList(thedataforthoselistsareobtainedfrommanuallycollateddata).
2 InthisListallapplicationstypesarecounted,includinginformationapplications.3 During2014and2015alargenumberofinactivecasesinthisListwereauditedand,whereappropriate,closed.Accordingly,in
thoseyearsthedisposalsfiguresareunusuallyhigh.4 InthisList,applicationsarecountedinsteadof‘cases’becausecasesinthisListcanbeofaperpetualnature.Duringtheperiod
whenaperson’saffairsorpropertyaremanagedundertheNSW Trustee and Guardian Act 2009,itispossiblethatmorethanoneapplicationwillbemadeinrelationtothatperson.‘Disposals’referstothenumberofdisposedapplications.
5 TheRealPropertyListcommencedon1June2015.SomecasescommencedearlierintheEquityGeneralListweretransferredtothisListforcasemanagementanddisposal.
6 Thisincludesallprobateapplicationsthatarelodgedasuncontestedapplicationsforagrantofprobateorlettersofadministration,orforresealofaprobategrant.Registrarsdealwithuncontestedapplications.Onlyasmallproportionoftheseapplicationsbecomecontested.ContestedapplicationsaretransferredtotheProbate(ContentiousMatters)Listandarecountedadditionallyasfilingsthere.Thefiguresheredonotincludeotherprobate-relatedmattershandledbytheregistry,suchasprobateaccountsmatters,caveats,depositedwills,andelectionstoadministerestates.
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Timeliness – age of pending cases at 31 December 1, 2
Number pending (and % of total) National standard 3
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COURT OF APPEAL
Totalnumberofcasespending 236 210 184 178 205
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
214(91%)
192(91%)
176(96%)
167(94%)
191(93%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
234(99%)
210(100%)
183(99%
177(99%)
201(98%)
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL
Totalnumberofcasespending 168 145 130 171 155
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
158(94%)
144(99%)
127(98%)
167(98%)
150(97%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
166(99%)
145(100%)
130(100%)
171(100%)
155(100%)
COMMON LAW DIVISION – Criminal 4, 5
Totalnumberofdefendantspending 115 112 119 113 110
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
93(81%)
80(71%)
89(75%)
61(54%)
74(67%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
109(95%)
107(96%)
109(92%)
107(95%)
97(88%)
COMMON LAW DIVISION – Civil
Totalnumberofcasespending 2,667 2,592 2,655 2,950 3,264
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
1,834(69%)
1,766(68%)
1,783(67%)
2,055(70%)
2,218(68%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
2,242(84%)
2,204(85%)
2,243(84%)
2,549(86%)
2,793(86%)
EQUITY DIVISION (excluding uncontested probate matters)
Totalnumberofcasespending 2,814 2,777 2,970 2,909 2,896
Caseswithin12monthsofage90%
2,001(71%)
1,975(71%)
2,055(69%)
1,950(67%)
1,871(65%)
Caseswithin24monthsofage100%
2,508(89%)
2,471(89%)
2,629(89%)
2,531(87%)
2,497(86%)
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1 ForcasesintheCourtofAppealandtheCourtofCriminalAppeal,theageofcasesincludestimetakentodealwithanyassociatedapplicationforleavetoappeal.
2 ThesefiguresincludetheeffectoffactorsoutsidethecontroloftheCourt,suchasthetimetakentocompleterelevantcasesinothercourts/tribunalsorinterlocutoryappeals,timetakentoprepareessentialreports,andtimeoccupiedbytrialsthatresultinahungjury.
3 Thenationalstandardsaretakenfromthe‘backlog’performanceindicatorwithintheCourtschapteroftheReport on Government Services(publishedbytheProductivityCommission).Notethatthenationalstandardsapplytodistrict/countycourtsaswellastosupremecourts;consequently,thenationalstandardsapplytoalargerangeofindictments,criminalityandcivilcasetypes.Thecase-mixofanycourtcaninfluencethatcourt’scapacitytoachievethestandards.Forcriminalcases,forexample,whileothersupremecourtsinAustraliatypicallydealwithabroadrangeofoffences,thisCourtdealstypicallywithcasesinvolvinghomicideoffences(othermatters,generallyinvolvingthemostseriouscriminality,maybebroughtonlywiththeapprovaloftheChiefJustice).Forcivilnon-appealcases,allsupremecourtsinAustraliacontinuetohavedifficultyachievingthenationalstandards(seethe‘Backlog’tablesinthelatestReportonGovernmentServices).
4 ThefiguresexcludemattersunderPart7oftheCrimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001andapplicationsforre-determinationofalifesentence.
5 Thefiguresarecomparablefromyeartoyear.Thecountingunitisdefendants.Casesareconsideredtobependinguntilthetimeofsentence/acquittalorotherfinaldisposal.Whereatrialcollapsesandanewtrialisordered,thecountingoftheageofthecaseiscalculatedfromthedateofcommittal(notfromthedateoftheorderforanewtrial).
Timeliness – listing delays after the end of the year 1, 2
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
COURT OF APPEAL 3 2.3months 1.0month 2.2months 1.7months 1.8months
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL 2.5months 1.5months 1.2months 3.0months 3.4months
COMMON LAW DIVISION
CriminalList4 5.5months 7.3months 5.5months 6.5months 5.0months
Civillists5 6.0months 7.3months 7.0months 6.0months 12.0months
BailsList6 10.5weeks 9.0weeks 7.0weeks 2.0weeks 2.0weeks
EQUITY DIVISION 7 3.0months 5.3months 4.5months 6.0months 6.7months
1 ThisisthetimebetweentheestablishmentofreadinessforhearingandthefirstgroupofavailablehearingdatesthattheCourtoffersforcriminalandciviltrialcases,criminalandcivilappealsandBailsListcases.ThesedelaysdonotapplyiftheCourtordersanexpeditedhearing.
2 Thelistingdelaysshowthepositionatthestartofthenewlawterm(forexample,for2019itisthepositionatthestartofthe2020lawterm).Thisremovestheend-of-yearimpactofthelawvacation.
3 Thisreferstosubstantiveappeals(includingthoseheardconcurrentlywithaleaveapplication).Thelistingdelayisusuallyshorterforahearingofaleaveapplicationalone.
4 Foryearsupto2015,thisreferstocasesrequiringatleast3weeksoftrialtime.From2016onwards,itreferstocasesrequiringatleast4weeksoftrialtime.
5 Thisreferstocasesrequiringupto5daysofhearingtime.6 Priorto2019,thisreferredtoapplicationsbyadultsreceivingpublicfunding.FromJune2019,itreferstoallapplicationsby
adultsfora30-minutehearing.Applicationsbyjuvenilesareusuallyheardwithin2weeks.7 ThisrefersonlytoGeneralListandProbate(ContentiousMatters)Listcasesrequiring2daysofhearingtimebeforeajudge.
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Alternative dispute resolution
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Court-annexed mediations listed 1, 2
Total 518 615 571 428 474
Common Law Division 32 38 51 29 27
Equity Division – not probate cases 447 528 455 344 366
Equity Division – probate cases 39 48 64 55 80
Court of Appeal 0 1 1 0 1
Percentagesettlingatmediation3,4 51% 51% 46% 47% 42%
Waitingtimeaftertheendoftheyear5 4weeks 5weeks 2weeks 5weeks 6weeks
Referrals to mediation generally
Totalreferralsrecorded6 1,071 806 943 1,169 1,407
Mediationreferralindex7 23.1% 17.3% 20.8% 24.7% 30.3%
Arbitrations listed 8
Total 0 0 0 0 0
1 ‘Court-annexedmediation’referstomediationsconductedbytheregistrarsoftheCourtwhoarealsoqualifiedasmediators.Itexcludessettlementconferencesconductedbyjudgesandmediationsconductedbyprivatemediators.
2 Thissectionreferstocourt-annexedmediationlistingsfortheyear–notethatreferralstocourt-annexedmediationthataremadelateinoneyearmayresultinlistingsearlyinthefollowingyear.
3 Thisrefersonlytocasesthathavesettledandeitheragreeduponfinalisingordersordraftedheadsofagreementby the close of the mediation session.Itdoesnotincludecasesthatadviseasettlementatanylatertime(eventhoughthemediationmayhavecontributedsignificantlytoreachingthatsettlement).In2019,forexample,inadditiontothe42%ofcasesthatsettledatthecloseoftheircourt-annexedmediationsession,afurther31%ofcaseswerecontinuingsettlementnegotiations.
4 Thisrefersonlytocasesusingcourt-annexedmediation.Theregistrydoesnotcollectsettlementdataformediationsconductedbyprivatemediators.
5 Thisisthewaitingtimetothefirst-availableextensivegroupofmediationsessionswithinthecourt-annexedmediationprogram,asreportedatthestartofthenewlawterm(forexample,for2019itisthepositionatthestartofthe2020lawterm).Sporadicearliersessionsareoftenavailable.UrgentmediationsessionsareprovidedwithoutdelaywhenorderedbytheCourt.
6 Thiscoversallcasesinwhich,duringtheyear,eitherareferraltomediationwasmadeordirectionsweregiventhatinvolvedmediation,regardlessofwhetherthemediationwouldbethroughthecourt-annexedmediationprogramorconductedbyaprivatemediator.
7 The‘mediationreferralindex’isthenumberofcasesreferredtomediationduringtheyear,dividedbythenumberofcaseslodged(inthatyear)thatareofatypeforwhichmediationisconsideredtobeapplicable.Forthepurposeofcalculatingthemediationreferralindex,mediationisconsideredtobeapplicableforallcivilcasetypes(includingappealcases),exceptforproceedsofcrimecases,casesthathaveahighlikelihoodofproceedingtodefaultjudgmentorhavenodefendantelement,allcasesintheAdoptionsList,HighRiskOffenderListorProtectiveList,and90%ofcasesintheCorporationsList.Whileacasemaybeofatypeforwhichmediationisconsideredtobeapplicable,theremaybeaparticularaspectofthatcaseindividuallythatmakesitinappropriateformediation;however,thecalculationofthemediationreferralindexdoesnotexcludeanyindividualcasesonthatbasis.
8 ReferralforarbitrationispossibleforSupremeCourtcases,butnoreferralshavebeenrecordedsince2006.
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APPENDIX (II): THE COURT’S COMMITTEES AND USER GROUPS
Chief Justice’s Executive CommitteeTheChiefJustice’sExecutiveCommitteewasestablishedinAugust2011tofacilitatecontemporaneousconsiderationandresolutionofsignificantoperationalstrategicissues.TheCommitteemetweeklythroughout2019,exceptduringperiodswhentheChiefJusticewasnotavailabletoholdameeting.
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBellTheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeWardMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistar
Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJamesAllsopAO(Chair),
ChiefJustice,FederalCourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeMiddleton,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeDoyle,SupremeCourtof
SouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeMossop,SupremeCourtof
AustralianCapitalTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeElkaim,SupremeCourtof
AustralianCapitalTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeStevenson,SupremeCourt
ofNewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeRees,SupremeCourtof
NewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeJackson,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeBond,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeRiordan,SupremeCourt
ofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeMartin,SupremeCourtof
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeQuinlan,SupremeCourtof
WesternAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeKelly,SupremeCourtoftheNorthernTerritory
TheHonourableJusticeSouthwood,SupremeCourtoftheNorthernTerritory
TheHonourableAssociateJusticeHolt,SupremeCourtofTasmania
TheHonourableJusticeBrett,SupremeCourtofTasmania
TheHonourableJusticeMcClelland,FamilyCourtofAustralia
MsBrendaHorrigan,PresidentofACICAMrJonathonRedwood,Vice-PresidentofACICAMrAllanMyersACQC,Non-judicialmember,
nominatedbyChair
Adoptions List Users Group
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeSackar(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeKuncMsLydiaSianipar,SupremeCourtNSWMrRobertSvoronos,SupremeCourtNSWMsSonaliAbeynaike,CatholicCareMsBrookeBowman,DepartmentofCommunities
andJusticeMsNicolaCallander,LegalAidMsNicoleHailstone,CrownSolicitor’sOfficeMsAmandaHall,LegalAidMrAlistairHarvey-Sutton,SolicitorMsEstherLawson,BarristerMsLynneMoggach,BarnardosMsJackiePalmer,AnglicareMsGraceRomeo,DepartmentofCommunities
andJusticeMrDerekSmith,DepartmentofCommunities
andJusticeMsLisaVihtonen,BarnardosMsDonnaWard,Barrister
Alternative Dispute Resolution Steering CommitteeTheAlternativeDisputeResolution(ADR)SteeringCommitteewhichwasestablishedin1993meetstodiscusstheCourt’sADRprocessesandconsiderwaysinwhichtheymightbeimproved.
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TheCommitteeworkstoencouragetheuseofADR(particularlymediation)inresolvingdisputes,andtoensuretheCourthasadequateresourcestoprovidethisservice.TheCommitteemakesrecommendationstotheChiefJusticeinpursuitoftheseobjectives,consultingwithothercourtsandexternalorganisationswhereappropriate.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeWard(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeHallenTheHonourableJusticeNatalieAdamsMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMsLeonieWalton,Registrar-EquityMrNicholasFlaskas,SeniorDeputyRegistrar
(Secretary)MrIanDavidsonSC(BarAssocrep)MsMaryWalkerMrStephenTitus(CarneysLawyers)
Appeal Courts Judgment Writing Committee (NJCA)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeFraser,CourtofAppeal
Queensland(Chair)TheHonourableJamesAllsopAO,ChiefJustice,
FederalCourtofAustraliaTheHonourableAlanBlow,ChiefJustice,Supreme
CourtTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeAinslieWallace,Family
CourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeBlue,SupremeCourt
SouthAustraliaTheHonJohnDoyle,SupremeCourtSouth
Australia(retired)TheHonourableJusticeFrances,CourtofAppeal,
NewZealandTheHonourableJusticeMacfarlanTheHonourableJusticeNeave,CourtofAppeal
VictoriaTheHonourableJusticePullin,CourtofAppeal
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeSouthwood,Supreme
CourtNorthernTerritory
Australasian Joint Judges’ Committee – (Organising Committee Joint Supreme Court/Federal Court Conference)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeStevenson(Chair)TheHonourableAlanBlow,ChiefJustice,Supreme
CourtTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeCavanough,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticePenfold,SupremeCourtof
AustralianCapitalTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeHeath,HighCourtof
NewZealandTheHonourableJusticeJessup,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeSouthwood,Supreme
CourtofNorthernTerritoryTheHonourableJusticeLyons,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeHeenan,SupremeCourtof
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeVanstone,SupremeCourt
ofSouthAustralia
Board of State Records Authority of New South WalesTheStateRecordsAuthorityofNewSouthWalesistheNewSouthWalesGovernment’sarchivesandrecordsmanagementauthority.ItspurposesaretopreservetheState’sarchivesandpromotetheiruse,andtosetstandardsandprovideguidanceandservicestoimproverecordsmanagementintheNewSouthWalesPublicSector.Pursuanttoitsgoverninglegislation,itsBoardisrequiredtoincludeaNewSouthWalesjudgenominatedbytheChiefJusticeofNewSouthWales.
Members during 2019MsAnneHenderson(Chair)(representingthe
historyprofession)TheHonourableJusticeLindsayDrStephenChoularton(representingprivatesector)TheHonDrPeterPhelpsMLCMrAnthonyLean(representingGovtdepartments)MrScottNash(representingLocalGovernment)
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Building CommitteeTheCommitteemeetsapproximatelyeverytwomonthstodiscussmattersaffectingthebuildingswithintheDarlinghurstandKingStreetcourtcomplexes,andtheLawCourtsBuildinginPhillipStreet.TheCommitteealsoidentifiesfacilitiesthatarerequiredtosupportcourtroomoperationsandtheneedsofCourtusers.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeBreretonAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeStevensonTheHonourableJusticeHallenMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMrNickSanderson-Gough,Manager,Court
OperationsandCommunicationsMrNathanGray,CourtroomSupportCoordinator
(Secretary)
Caselaw Governance CommitteeTheCaselawGovernanceCommitteewasestablishedtoprovideaforumfordiscussionattendedbyrepresentativesofthevariouscourtsandtribunalswhichpublishjudgmentsanddecisionsonNSWCaselaw.NSWCaselawisaplatformrunbytheDepartmentofCommunitiesandJustice,oftheNewSouthWalesGovernment.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBasten,CourtofAppealof
NSW(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeMoore,Landand
EnvironmentCourtofNSWHisHonourJudgePickering,DistrictCourtofNSWTheHonourableJusticeArmstrong,President,New
SouthWalesCivilandAdministrativeTribunalMagistrateMcIntyre,NSWLocalCourtMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirector&Principal
Registrar,SupremeCourtofNSWMsSarahFroh,Registrar,LandandEnvironment
CourtofNSWMsMelindaMorgan,Registrar,IndustrialRelations
CommissionofNSW
MsCathySzczygielski,PrincipalRegistrar,NewSouthWalesCivilandAdministrativeTribunal
MsElizabethKing,ResearchAssociate,NSWChildren’sCourt
MsSueKing,Registrar-DustDiseasesTribunalofNSW
Civil Bench Book
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeGarlingRFDTheHonourableJusticeKunc
College of Law
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHallen
Commercial List Users GroupTheGroupprovidesaforumfordiscussionamongsttheCommercialListJudgesandlegalpractitionerswhopractiseintheCommercialList.TheGroupmeetstodiscussvariousissuesconcerningtheadministrationoftheList,includingmattersofprocedureandpracticeinrelationtotheListsandthepotentialforrevisionofthepracticetoensurethattheListsoperateasefficientlyaspossible.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHammerschlagJ
(ListJudge)(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeWardTheHonourableJusticeParkerTheHonourableJusticeBallTheHonourableJusticeStevensonMrMarkAshhurstSC,UniversityChambersMrZivBen-Arie,MillsOakleyMrTimBreakspear–BancoChambersMrGraemeJohnson,HerbertSmithFreehills
(LawSocietyRepresentative)MrMalcolmStephens,Allens(LawSociety
Representative)MrFrancisHicks,BlackstoneChambersDrRuthHiggins,BancoChambersMsElisaHolmes,ElevenWentworthMrDavidJury,HWLEbsworthLawyers
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MrNickKiddSC,7WentworthSelborneChambersMrDuncanMillerSC,7WentworthSelborne
ChambersMrRobertNewlindsSC,BancoChambersMrPeterPether,King&WoodMallesonsMsGeorgiaQuick,AshurstMsNualaSimpson,7WentworthChambersDrKristinaSternSC,6SelborneChambersMrDavidSulan,BancoChambersMsVanessaWhittaker,BancoChambers
Common Law Civil Users GroupTheGroupprovidesaforumfordiscussingandaddressingmattersofconcernorinterestintheadministrationoftheCommonLawDivision’sciviltrialworkload.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticeGarlingRFDTheHonourableJusticeFaganMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMrChristopherBradford,Registrar,CommonLawMrPeterDeakinQC,SirJamesMartinChambersMrEugeneRomaniukSC,JackShandChambersMsLornaMcFee,NewSouthWalesBarAssociationMsKathleenHarris,LawSocietyNewSouthWalesMsRaminaKambar,LawSocietyNewSouthWales
Corporations List Users Group TheGrouppromotesopenandregulardiscussionbetweenjudicialofficersandlegalpractitionersregardingtheCorporationsList,andassistsinensuringthattheListisconductedinafairandefficientmanner.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBlackTheHonourableJusticeReesMsRebelKenna,Director&ProthonotaryMsLeonieWalton,Registrar,EquityMrDamianAllen(8WindeyerChambers)MrCharlesBavin(Hunt&Hunt)MrAndrewCarter(Ashurst)
MrMilesKCondonSC(16thFloorWardellChambers)
MrDoranCookSC(BlackstoneChambers)MrGlenCussen(KempStrang)MrStevenGolledge(3StJamesHallChambers)MsGeorginaHayden(ASIC)MrMichaelHayter(GillisDelaney)MrBenHely,HerbertSmithFreehillsMrLukeHastings,HerbertSmithFreehillsMrMichaelHughes(MinterEllison)AamenaHussein(CraddockMurrayNeumann)MrJimJohnson(FrederickJordanChambers)MrRogerDMarshallSC(GroundFloorWentworthChambers)MrKhaledMetlej(CraddockMurrayNeumann)MrDavidMcCrostie(TurksLegal)MrAlexanderMorris(Mallesons)MrMichaelMurray(InsolvencyPractitioners
ofAustralia)MrRobertNewlindsSC(BancoChambers)MsDeniseNorth(InsolvencyPractitioners
ofAustralia)MrMalcolmOakesSC(TenthFloorChambers)MsMariaO’Brien(BakerMcKenzie)MrDavidPritchardSC(3StJamesHallChambers)MrDavidStack(BlackstoneChambers)MrJimThomson(13WentworthSelborneChambers)
Costs Assessment Rules Committee
Members during 2019 TheHonourableJusticeBreretonAMRFD(Chair)MrBrendanBellach,Manager,CostsAssessment
(Secretary)MsSamanthaGulliver(OfficeoftheLegalServices
Commissioner)MrMarkBrabazon(NSWBarAssociation)MsValerieHigginbotham(NSWLawSociety)MrGordonSalierMsMichelleCastleMsAlexandraHutleyMrStephenLanckenMrJohnSharpeMrChrisWall
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Court of Criminal Appeal/Crime Users GroupThejointCourtofCriminalAppeal/CrimeUsersGroupmeetsasrequiredtopromoteeffectivecommunicationbetweentheCourtandkeyusers.TheGroupfocusesonensuringthatCourtofCriminalAppealproceduresworkeffectivelyandefficientlywithintherequiredtimeframes.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFD(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMsRebelKenna,ProthonotaryMrGeorgeGalanis,Registrar,Courtof
CriminalAppealMrPhillipIngramSC,OfficeoftheDirectorof
PublicProsecutionsMsEllenMcKenzie,CommonwealthDirectorof
PublicProsecutionsMsJanetWitmer,LegalAidCommission
NewSouthWalesMsMadeleineSchneider,LegalAidCommission
NewSouthWalesMsClairWasley,AboriginalLegalServices
NewSouthWales/AustralianCapitalTerritoryMrSOdgersSC,NewSouthWalesBarAssociationMsElizabethHall,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesMrDavidGiddy,LawSocietyNewSouthWalesMsPamOlsoen,SeniorRegistrar,LocalCourt
Criminal Trial Bench BookTheCriminalTrialsBenchBookCommitteeischairedbytheHonourableRodHowieQC.MrHughDonnelly,Director,ResearchandSentencing,JudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesistheConvenor).ThejudicialmembersoftheCommitteearelistedbelow.ItsfunctionistocontinuallyreviseandupdatetheCriminalTrialsBenchBookwithsuggestedjurydirectionsandinformationonproceduralaspectsconcerningthemyriadissuesthatariseinthecourseofcriminaltrialsintheDistrictCourtandtheSupremeCourt.Thecommitteedoesnotconveneformalmeetingsbutengagesinregulardiscussionbyelectronicmeans.
Members during 2019TheHonourableRodHowieQC(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeRAHulmeHisHonourJudgeLakatosSC,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeArnott,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesMsPierretteMizzi,JudicialCommission
Criminal Appeal Review Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJusticeTheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeHulmeMsRebelKenna(Prothonotary)MrGeorgeGalanis(Registrar,CCA)MrJohnLedda(ParliamentaryCounsel’sOffice)MsCaterinaKim(ParliamentaryCounsel’sOffice)MsSophieGoodwin(ParliamentaryCounsel’s
Office)
Defamation Working Group
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeMcCallumMrPaulMcKnight,ExecutiveDirector,Policy&
ReformBranch,DepartmentofCommunitiesandJustice
ProfDavidRolph,UniversityofSydneyLawSchoolMsSandyDawsonSC,BancoChambers
Early Appropriate Guilty Pleas Reform Steering Committee (EAGP Steer Co)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticePriceAO,ChiefJudgeof
theDistrictCourtofNSWTheHonourableJusticeFullertonHisHonourJudgeHenson,ChiefMagistrateofthe
LocalCourtMrLloydBabbSC,TheOfficeoftheDirectorof
PublicProsecutionsMrBrendanThomas,CEO,LegalAidNSWMsCatherineD’Elia,DeputySecretaryCourts,
TribunalsandServiceMsKateConnors,DeputySecretary,JPSMrIanDickson,NSWPoliceForce
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MrJonPiggot,DepartmentofCommunitiesandJusticeFinance
MrLukeGrant,AssistantCommissioner,CorrectiveServicesNSW
Education CommitteeTheSupremeCourtEducationCommittee,inpartnershipwiththeJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWales,plansandorganisescontinuingjudicialeducationforjudgesoftheCourt
TheprincipalactivityoftheCommitteeinvolvestheplanningfortheannualSupremeCourtconferenceheldinAugustorSeptember.TheunderlyingfocusoftheCommittee,initscollaborationwiththeJudicialCommission,istomaintain,asinpastyears,ahighstandardofprofessionaldevelopmentandtrainingforjudgesoftheCourt.Asinthepast,theCommitteeandtheCourtareindebtedtothespeakerswhopreparedandpresentedpapersatthevariousseminarsandattheconference.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBasten(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeLeemingTheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFDTheHonourableJusticePayneTheHonourableJusticeWhiteTheHonourableJusticeJohnsonTheHonourableJusticeHarrisonTheHonourableJusticeGarlingRFDTheHonourableJusticeBlackTheHonourableJusticeWrightMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMsUnaDoyle,EducationDirector,Judicial
CommissionofNewSouthWales(Convenor)
Equity Liaison GroupThisGroupwasestablishedin2001topromotediscoursebetweenthelegalprofessionandrepresentativesoftheEquityDivisioninregardtomattersofinterestandimportancetotheoperationoftheDivision.TheGroupisinformalandthemeetingsfacilitatecandiddiscussionsabouttheoperationsoftheDivision.Typically,thesediscussionsencouragecooperationbetweenthejudgesandlegalprofessionindevelopingsuggestedimprovementstotheDivision’soperations.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeWard(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeSlatteryAMRANMsLeonieWalton,Registrar,EquityDivisionMrCRCNewlindsSCMrGASirtesSCMsVWhittakerMrMAshhurstSCMrMKCondonSCMsAMKennedyMrJKMartinMrBJMillerMsPGSuttorMrCAlexanderMrScottBaxter
Harmonisation CommitteeTheHarmonisationofRulesCommitteeisacommitteeoftheCouncilofChiefJustices.IthasrepresentativesoftheFederalCourtofAustralia,theFamilyCourtofAustralia,eachoftheSupremeCourtsofAustraliaandtheHighCourtofNewZealand.ThegoalsoftheCommitteearetheharmonisationofrulesofcourtand,asappropriate,practiceinspecificsubjectareas,eitherasidentifiedbyreferencesfromtheCouncilofChiefJusticesor,withtheendorsementoftheCouncil,byconsensusamongstparticipatingjurisdictions,throughthemembersoftheCommittee.TheCommitteemonitorstheoperationofharmonisedrulesofcourtandpracticeadoptedbyparticipatingjurisdictions,aswellasrelevantproposalsformodificationofthesubstantivelaw,togenerateamendmentstothoserulesandpracticesonaharmonisedbasis.TheconvenoroftheCommitteeisappointedbytheCouncilofChiefJustices.Othermembersarenominatedbytheheadofeachparticipatingjurisdictionforoneormorespecificsubjectareaprojects,forthemonitoringofadoptedharmonisedrulesofcourtorforboth.TheCommitteeissupportedbyaRegistraroftheFederalCourt,withresearchandadvicefromtheAustralasianInstituteofJudicialAdministration.
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Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticePerram(Chairand
Convenor),FederalCourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeHammerschlagTheHonourableJusticeReinTheHonourableJusticeCavanough,Supreme
CourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeCroft,SupremeCourt
ofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeDouglas,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeLeMiere,SupremeCourtof
WesternAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeBlue,SupremeCourtof
SouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeWhite,SupremeCourtof
SouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeEvans,SupremeCourt
ofTasmaniaTheHonourableJusticeRefshuage,SupremeCourt
ofAustralianCapitalTerritoryMasterLuppino,SupremeCourtofNorthern
TerritoryTheHonourableJusticeStrickland,FamilyCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeFogarty,HighCourt,
NewZealandTheHonourableJusticeKenny,FederalCourtof
AustraliaTheHonourableJusticeLander,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaProfessorGregoryReinhardt,AustralasianInstitute
ofJudicialAdministrationMrJohnMathieson,DeputyRegistrar,FederalCourt
ofAustralia(Secretary)MsMelanieFaithfull,FederalCourtofAustralia
(Minutes)
Information TechnologyTheInformationTechnologyCommitteemeetstoassesstheinformationtechnologyneedsofjudicialofficersandtheirstaff,thetechnologyfacilitiesincourtroomsthroughouttheStateusedbytheCourtandtoreviewtheimplementationofITservices.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeGarlingRFD(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeGleesonTheHonourableJusticeSackarTheHonourableJusticeBeech-JonesMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorand
PrincipalRegistrarMrNickSanderson-Gough,Manager,
CourtOperationsandCommunicationsMrMarloweEspiritu,SCTInformationTechnology
Coordinator(untilMay)MrArunChand,SCTInformationTechnology
Coordinator(fromJune)
Joint Conference on Sentencing (NJCA & Australian National University, Faculty of Law)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeMullins,SupremeCourtof
Queensland(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeFaganTheHonourableJusticePepper,Landand
EnvironmentCourtofNSWHisHonourJudgeNorrish,DistrictCourtofNSWHerHonourJudgeCohen,CountyCourtofVictoriaChiefMagistrateHeath,MagistratesCourtofWAMagistrateHorrigan,Children’sCourtofWAChiefJudgeMuecke,DistrictCourtof
SouthAustraliaJusticeMurphy,FamilyCourtofAustralia(Brisbane)TheHonourableJusticeRefshauge,SupremeCourt
oftheACTMsAmyBegley,ANUCollegeofLawA/ProfessorMarkNolan,ANUCollegeofLawDrAnthonyHopkins,ANUCollegeofLaw,ANUMsLillianLesueur,ChiefExecutiveOfficer,NJCAMsKarenSloan,ProgramManager,NJCA
Judicial Conference of Australia
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBeech-Jones,(President)TheHonourableJusticeWaltonTheHonourableJusticeJudithKelly,SupremeCourt
oftheNorthernTerritory(VicePresident)HisHonourJudgeMichaelBaumann,AM,
FederalCircuitCourtofAustralia(Treasurer)
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ChiefJusticeAlanBlow,OAM,SupremeCourtofTasmania
HisHonourJudgeWayneChivell,DistrictCourtofSouthAustralia
HisHonourJudgePhilipEaton,DistrictCourtofWesternAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeTimothyGinnane,SupremeCourtofVictoria
HisHonourJudgeGraemeHensonAM,ChiefMagistrate,LocalCourtofNewSouthWales
TheHonourableJusticeNeilMcKerracher,FederalCourtofAustralia
TheHonourableJusticeHilaryPenfold,SupremeCourtoftheAustralianCapitalTerritory
MagistrateMarcSargent,Magistrates’CourtofVictoria
Judges’ Handbook Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeWardTheHonourableJusticeSchmidtAMTheHonourableJusticeStevensonTheHonourableJusticeDarkeTheHonourableJusticeLonergan
Judicial Commission of New South WalesTheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesprovidesacontinuingeducationandinformationprogramforthejudicialofficersofNewSouthWales,andexaminescomplaintsaboutjudicialofficers’abilityorbehaviour.TenCommissionmembersguidetheCommission’sstrategicdirectionandexamineallcomplaints.
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice
(PresidentandChair)TheHonourableJusticeBell,Presidentofthe
CourtofAppealTheHonourableJusticePreston,Landand
EnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesTheHonourableJusticeDerekPriceAO,Chief
Judge,DistrictCourtofNewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeHenson,ChiefMagistrate,
NewSouthWalesLocalCourtMrPeterKite,ChiefCommissioner,Industrial
RelationsCommissionofNSW
DrJudithCashmoreAOMrDavidGiddyProfessorBrianMcCaughanAMMrYairMiller
Judicial Conference of Australia
Members during 2019TheHonJusticeJudithKelly,PresidentTheHonJusticeGlennMartin,AM,VicePresidentTheHonJusticeMichaelBaumann,AM,TreasurerHisHonourJudgeWayneChivell,Intermediate
CourtsRepresentativeHerHonourMagistrateJanMaclean,Magistrates/
LocalCourtRepresentativeTheHonJusticeNeilMcKerracher,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonJusticeMichaelBaumann,AM,Family
CourtofAustraliaHerHonourJudgeAlexandraHarland,Federal
CircuitCourtofAustraliaTheHonJusticeJohnBurns,SupremeCourtofthe
AustralianCapitalTerritoryHisHonourMagistratePeterMorrison,Magistrates
CourtoftheAustralianCapitalTerritoryTheHonJusticeMichaelWaltonTheHonJusticeNicolaPain,LandandEnvironment
CourtofNewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeGarryNeilson,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHerHonourMagistrateJennyAtkinson,LocalCourt
ofNewSouthWalesTheHonJusticeJudithKelly,SupremeCourtofthe
NorthernTerritoryHerHonourChiefJudgeElizabethMorris,Local
CourtoftheNorthernTerritoryTheHonJusticeGlennMartin,AM,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandHisHonourJudgeAnthonyRafter,SC,District
CourtofQueenslandVicePresidentDanielO’Connor,IndustrialCourt
ofQueenslandPresidentFleurKingham,LandCourtofQueenslandHerHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateLeanne
O’Shea,MagistratesCourtofQueenslandHisHonourJudgeGrahamDart,SupremeCourtof
SouthAustralia
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HisHonourJudgeWayneChivell,DistrictCourtofSouthAustralia
TheHonJusticeStevenDolphin,SouthAustralianEmploymentTribunal
HisHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateBrettDixon,MagistratesCourtofSouthAustralia
TheHonChiefJusticeAlanBlow,AO,SupremeCourtofTasmania
HisHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateMichaelDaly,MagistratesCourtofTasmania
TheHonJusticeStevenMoore,SupremeCourtofVictoria
HerHonourJudgeRachelleLewitan,AM,CountyCourtofVictoria
HerHonourMagistrateJanMaclean,Magistrates’CourtofVictoria
TheHonJusticeReneLeMiere,SupremeCourtofWesternAustralia
HisHonourJudgeAndrewStavrianou,DistrictCourtofWesternAustralia
HerHonourMagistrateAndréeHorrigan,MagistratesCourtofWesternAustralia
TheHonTonyPagone,QC,InternationalAssociationofJudges
MrChristopherRoperAM,Secretary
Judgment Writing Program Committee (National Judicial College of Australia)ThePlanningCommitteeforJudgmentWritinghasbeendevelopedfortheAustralianjudiciary.Theprogramisdesignedtoenhanceparticipants’judgmentwritingskillsthroughanalysis,discussionsandrewritingofjudgmentsinsmallgroups,assistedbyprofessionalwritersandseniorjudges.
Members during 2019TheHonourableMurrayKellamAO(Chair)formerly
SupremeCourtofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeSchmidtAMTheHonourableJusticeCraigColvin,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeDebraMullinsAO,Supreme
CourtofQueenslandTheHonourableJusticeStevensonHisHonourJudgeChrisO’Neill,CountyCourt
ofVictoriaMsJanieArmstrong,ProgramManager,National
JudicialCollegeofAustralia
Judicial Remuneration Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHoebenAMRFD(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeRothmanAMTheHonourableJusticeSchmidtAMTheHonourableJusticeSackar
Jury Task Force
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeFullerton(Chair)TheHonourableRAHulmeHisHonourJudgeHock,DistrictCourtMrChristopherTurner,AssistantSheriff,Regional
Manager–MetropolitanMrGavinRowan,ManagerJury&CourtManagement
Law Admissions Consultative CommitteeTheLawAdmissionsConsultativeCommitteeconsistsofrepresentativesofthelawadmittingauthorityineachAustraliajurisdiction,theCommitteeofAustralianLawDeans,theAustralasianProfessionalLegalEducationCouncilandtheLawCouncilofAustralia.ItisgenerallyresponsibletotheCouncilofChiefJustices,whichappointsthechairmanofLACC.LACC’smainroleistoforgeconsensusbetweenthebodiesrepresentedbyitsmembersonmattersrelatingtotheacademicandpracticallegaltrainingrequirementsforadmissiontotheAustralianlegalprofession.ThefunctionsofLACCaretodevelop,considerandmakerecommendationsaboutpolicies,proceduresandothermattersdirectlyorindirectlyrelatedtoadmissiontothelegalprofession.
Members during 2019ProfessorSandfordDClark(Chair)TheHonourableActingJusticeEmmettAO
Law Courts Library Advisory CommitteeTheCommitteewasestablishedin2003pursuanttoaMemorandumofUnderstandingbetweentheFederalCourtandtheDepartmentofCommunitiesandJusticerelatingtotheLawCourtsLibrarysituatedintheLawCourtsBuildingatQueen’sSquareSydney.
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TheCommitteegivesadviceinrelationtothemanagementofthelibraryanditscollectionsandisconstitutedbythreerepresentativesfromeachoftheSupremeCourtandFederalCourt.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBastenTheHonourableJusticeMacfarlanTheHonourableActingJusticeEmmettAOTheHonourableJusticeFlick,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeJagot,FederalCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticePerram,FederalCourt
ofAustralia
Law Extension Committee (Sydney University)
Members during 2019HerHonourMagistrateDaphneAKok(Senate
nominee)(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeWhite(ChiefJustice’s
nominee)ProfessorJoellenRiley,Dean,LawSchoolMrRossAnderson,(LawSchoolnominee)ProfessorSheelaghMcCracken(LawSchool
nominee)ProfessorCameronStewart(LawSchoolnominee)ProfessorPhilippaPattison(DeputyViceChancellor
[Education]&SenateNominee)ProfessorRoslynArnold(Senatenominee)ProfessorTyroneCarlin(Senatenominee)MrTonyO’Brien(BarAssociationofNSWnominee)MsJanetOakley(BarAssociationofNSWnominee)MrJohnDobson(LawSocietyofNSWnominee)MsHeidiFairhall(LawSocietyofNSWnominee)MsBelindaHutchinsonAM,ChancellorDrMichaelSpence,ViceChancellorMrAlecBrennan,DeputyChancellor
Law Reform Commission
Members during 2019MrAlanCameronAO(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBrereton,AMRFD
(DeputyChair)
TheHonourableActingJusticeCarolynSimpsonAO(Commissioner)
DrAnnabelleBennett,ACSC(Commissioner)
Legal Profession Admission BoardJusticeEmmetthasbeenthenomineeoftheChiefJusticeaspresidingmemberontheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoard.TheBoardhasresponsibilityforthreebroadfunctions,beingtheoversightoftheapprovalandadmissionoflawyersinNewSouthWales,theaccreditationoflawschoolsinNewSouthWalesandtheexaminationofstudents-at-lawfortheDiplomaofLawcoursetaughtinconjunctionwiththeLawExtensionCommitteeoftheUniversityofSydney.
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJusticeTheHonourableActingJusticeEmmettAO
(DeputyChair)TheHonourableJusticePayneTheHonourableJusticeLindsayMrGarryMcGrathSC(BarAssociationrep)MsMargaretAllarsSC(BarAssociationrep)MrCharlesCawley(LawSocietyofNSW)MrJohnDobson(LawSocietyrep)ProfLesleyHitchens(DeanofLaw,UTS)ProfMichaelAdams(DeanofLaw,UWS)DrJacobCampbell(DepartmentofCommunities
andJustice)MrChrisBanks(Secretary)
Legal Profession Admission Board Examinations Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHamill(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeDarkeMrMichaelChristieSC(6Selborne
WentworthChambers)MrAndrewBoogMrRossAndersonMsSusanCarterMrJohnDobsonMsMaureenNoonan
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Legal Profession Admission Board Legal Qualifications Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeRobb(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeButtonTheHonourableJusticeAdamsMrJohnFernonSCMsElizabethPickerMrThomasSpohrMrRichardHarveyMsMaryMackenMrCharlesCawleyMrStuartWestgarthMsJennyEggletonMsCarolynPenfoldProfPeterRadanDrGordonElkingtonMrPeterUnderwoodMrGregoryRoss
Legal Services Council Admissions Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableActingJusticeEmmettAO(Chair)TheHonourableDavidHabersbergerTheHonourableJusticeHenryDrElizabethBorosMrStuartClarkProfessorLesleyHitchens
Media Court Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticePayne(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeLonerganTheHonourableJusticeReesMsSonyaZadel(MediaManager)MsLisaMiller(MediaManager)
National Admissions Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeWhiteTheHonourableJusticeKyrou,SupremeCourt
ofVictoria
National Judicial Orientation Program CommitteeTheNationalJudicialOrientationProgramCommitteeassistsnewlyappointedjudgeswiththeirtransitiontojudicialoffice.Theprogramoffersinsightsintotheroleandresponsibilitiesofamemberofthejudiciary,providestheopportunityfornewappointeestobenefitfromtheknowledgeandexperienceofseniorjudgeswhoattendtheprogramasspeakers,andallowsforanexchangeofideasandexperiencesamongparticipants.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHarrison(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBenjamin,FamilyCourt
ofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeKyrou,SupremeCourt
ofVictoriaTheHonourableJusticeMullins,SupremeCourt
ofQueenslandHisHonourJudgeNorrish,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeRares,FederalCourtofAustraliaHerHonourJudgeWager,DistrictCourtof
WesternAustraliaMrJohnMcGuinness,Director,NationalJudicial
CollegeofAustraliaMsJennyGreen,AcademicDirector,National
JudicialCollegeofAustraliaProfessorGregReinhardt,AustralasianInstituteof
JudicialAdministrationMrErnestSchmattPSM,JudicialCommissionof
NewSouthWalesMsUnaDoyle,JudicialCommissionof
NewSouthWales
Ngara Yura (Judicial Commission Aboriginal Liaison Committee)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeRothmanAM(Chair)TheHonourableJamesAllsopAO,ChiefJusticeof
theFederalCourtofAustraliaTheHonourableJusticePepper,Landand
EnvironmentCourtHisHonourJudgeHaeslerSC,DistrictCourtHerHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateMottley,
LocalCourt
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HisHonourMagistrateDick,LocalCourtHerHonourMagistrateDuncombe,Children’sCourtMrTerryChenery,CEO,HunterAboriginal
Children’sServicesProfMeganDavis,Director,IndigenousLawCentre,
FacultyofLawUNSWMrErnieSchmattPSM,ChiefExecutive,
JudicialCommissionMsUnaDoyle,EducationDirector,Judicial
Commission(Convenor)MsRuthSheard,Manager,Conferencesand
Communication,JudicialCommissionMsJoanneSelfe,NgaraYura,JudicialCommission
(ProgramProjectOfficer)
NSW Law Reporting Liaison Committee
Members during 2019MrMarkBrabazonSC(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBellTheHonourableJusticeBastenTheHonourableJusticeMeagherTheHonourableJusticeLeemingTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeLindsayMrGarryRichSC(Councilmember)MsSophieCallan(Councilmember)DrElisabethPeadon(NSWLREditor)MsFionaHopkins(Council’sGeneralManager)
(Convenor)
Parliamentary Counsel’s Consultative Group
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBastenTheHonourableJusticeLeemingTheHonourableJusticeBeech-Jones
Planning Committee for Dialogues on being a Judge (National Judicial College of Australia)ThePlanningCommitteeforDialoguesonbeingaJudgedevelopsprogramsformid-careerjudgesandmagistratestoprovideanopportunityforthemtoexaminetheirapproachtotheirworkthroughtheexplorationofanumberofcontemporarythemes.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeStephenGageler,
HighCourtofAustralia(Chair)HisHonourGordonBarrett,DistrictCourtof
SouthAustraliaTheHonourableJusticeAnnAinslie-Wallace,
FamilyCourtofAustraliaTheHonJonDoyle(formerlyChiefJusticeofthe
SupremeCourtofSouthAustralia)MrJohnMcGinness,Director,NationalJudicial
CollegeofAustraliaMsJennyGreen,NationalJudicialCollege
ofAustralia
Possession List Users GroupThePossessionListUsersGroupwasestablishedin2006.ThePossessionListis,numerically,thelargestlistintheCommonLawDivisionandinvolvesclaimsforpossessionoflandfollowingmortgagedefault.TheGroupcomprisesrepresentativesfromarangeoflawfirmswhoregularlyappearforplaintiffsintheListandorganisations(LegalAidNewSouthWales,theConsumerCreditLegalCentreandRedfernLegalCentre)whoprovidelegalassistancetothoseexperiencingproblemswithdebt.TheGroupdoesnothaveappointedmembers.Rather,representativesfromthosefirmsandorganisationsattendandprovidearangeofviewsonrelevantissues.TheGroup’sprimaryobjectivesaretoencouragefrankdiscussionconcerningissuesaffectingtherunningoftheList,toidentifyhowanyproblemsmightbeovercomeandtoimprovecourtprocessestoassistpartiesinthisclassofproceedings.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeDavies,MsRebelKenna,ProthonotaryandDirector&
AssistantPrincipalRegistrarMrChristopherBradford,RegistrarMsNaomiUbrihien,ManagerClientServicesMrMilioCesta-Incani,ManagerListingServiceMrTimSherrard,DentonsAustraliaMrRichardLewin,DentonsAustraliaMrRodCameron,HicksonsMsAmyKnox,FinancialRightsLegalCentreMsAlexandraKelly,FinancialRightsLegalCentre
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MsAliceLin,FinancialRightsLegalCentreMsLaraSong,FinancialRightsLegalCentreMsNoraMinassian,ThomsonGeerMsPipNagam,ThomsonGeerMsKhoterraShaw,ThomsonGeerMsLaurenHatton,ThomsonGeerMsKimberleyWells,ThomsonGeerMsCaitilinWatson,AtkinsonVindenMsClarissaMirarchi,LegalAidNSWMsNeridaWalker,LegalAidNSWMrMarkHilton,NortonRoseFulbrightAustraliaMrMatthewPike,HWLEbsworthMsJulieTalakovski,HWLEbsworthMrAdamYoung,HWLEbsworthMsKathrynBrann,SummerLawyersMsJenniferBalech,SummerLawyersMrAndrewHack,SummerLawyersMsElisabethMcGready,SummerLawyersMsDebraSweikert,SummerLawyersMsGayathriSingh,SummerLawyersMsYuliaGurdina,SummerLawyersMsElizabethMead,SummerLawyersMrBrendanBurke,EdmundBartonChambersMsErinCouper,BransgrovesMsKateCooper,BransgrovesMrMatthewBransgrove,BransgrovesMsSarahElbarhoun,BransgrovesMsChristinaJabbour,BransgrovesMsVivienneZheng,BransgrovesMrSimonDuke,GalileeSolicitorsMsKatherineJoy,GalileeSolicitors
Probate Users GroupTheGroupmeetsfromtimetotimetodiscussmattersconcerningtheoperationandadministrationoftheCourt’sprobatework.TheGroupconsidersimprovementstopracticesandprocessesandmakesrecommendationstotheRulesCommitteewhenappropriate.TheGroupalsodiscussesspecificissuespertinenttoprobatemattersanddeceasedestatesgenerally.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticeHallenMrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
Registrar
MsRebelKenna,Manager,CourtServices&Prothonotary
MsLouiseBrown,SeniorDeputyRegistrarMrJonathanSimpkinsSCMrJohnArmfieldProfessorRCroucher,MacquarieUniversity
(representingNewSouthWalesLawSchools)MsPVines,UniversityofNewSouthWalesMrRNeal,LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesMsPSuttor,LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesMsRPollard,NewSouthWalesTrusteeand
GuardianMrPWhitehead(representingtrusteecompanies)MrMWillmott,NewSouthWalesBarAssociation
Professional Negligence List Users GroupTheGroupmeetsasrequiredtodiscussissuesrelevanttotheadministrationandoperationoftheList.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHarrison(Chairand
Convenor)MrDavidHiggsSCMrDuncanGrahamSCMrMichaelFordhamSCMsJacquiSandfordMsKathrynSantMrJasonDowningMsAnneHorvathMrPatrickRooneyMsLouiseCantrell(HenryDavisYork)MsKerrieChambers(Ebsworths)MsRebeccaKearney(Avant)MsKarenKumar(Hicksons)MrBillMadden(Carroll&O’Dea)MsJulieMahony(StacksGoudkamp)MsFrancescaMinniti(Curwoods)MrDonMunro(TressCocks)MsAnnaWalsh(MauriceBlackburn)
Programs Advisory Committee (National Judicial College of Australia)
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeStevensonTheHonourableJusticeDowsett,FederalCourt
(Brisbane)
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ChiefMagistrateHeath(MagistratesCourt,WA)JudgeAltobelli(FederalCircuitCourtofAustralia)JudgeGucciardo(CountyCourtofVictoria)MagistrateHorrigan(Children’sCourtofWA)JusticeMartin(SupremeCourtofQueensland)ChiefJudgeMuecke(DistrictCourtofSA)ProfessorStephenBottomley(Dean,ANUCollege
ofLaw)MsWendyKukulies-Smith(ANUCollegeofLaw)MsLillianLesueur(ChiefExecutiveOfficer,National
JudicialCollegeofAustralia)
Standing Advisory Committee of the Judicial Commission on Judicial EducationTheStandingAdvisoryCommitteeonJudicialEducationadvisestheJudicialCommissionofNewSouthWalesaboutcontinuingjudicialeducation.Itsactivitiesincludeidentifyingspecificneedsandrecommendingparticulareducationalactivities;recommendingpapersforpublicationinTheJudicialReview,andcoordinatingtheactivitiesoftherespectivecourt’sEducationCommittees,whereappropriate.
Membershipconsistsofthechairpersons(ortheirrepresentatives)oftheEducationCommitteesofeachofthefivecourts.
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeBasten(Chair)TheHonourableJusticePain,Landand
EnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesHisHonourJudgeLakatosSC,DistrictCourtof
NewSouthWalesHisHonourDeputyChiefMagistrateMichaelAllen,
LocalCourtofNewSouthWalesMsUnaDoyle,EducationDirector,JudicialCommissionofNSWMsKateLumley,ManagerCommunications&
Publishing,JudicialCommissionMsFluerFindlay,LegalEditor,JudicialCommission
Standing International Forum on Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) – Working Group
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeHammerschlag
Supreme Court Rules CommitteeTheRuleCommitteemeetsasrequiredtoconsiderproposedchangestotheSupremeCourtRules1970withaviewtoincreasingtheefficiencyoftheCourt’soperations,andreducingcostanddelayinaccordancewiththerequirementsofaccesstojustice.TheCommitteeisastatutorybodythathasthepowertoalter,addto,orrescindanyoftheRulescontainedin,orcreatedunder,theSupreme Court Act 1970.TheCommittee’smembershipisdefinedinSection123oftheAct,andincludesrepresentativesfromeachDivisionoftheCourtandkeyorganisationswithinthelegalprofession.ManyoftherulesthatgoverncivilproceedingsarenowincorporatedintheUniformCivilProcedureRules.Inthesecircumstances,fewermeetingsoftheRuleCommitteehavebeenrequired.
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice
(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBellTheHonourableJusticeMeagherTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticeDarkeMsRebelKenna,DirectorandProthonotary
(Secretary)MsSylviaFernandez,LawSocietyofNew
SouthWalesMsCarolWebsterSC(NSWBarAssociation
representative)MrMarkWalshSC(NSWBarAssociation
representative)MrDavidHing(LawSocietyofNewSouthWales
deputy/alternate)
Supreme Court Bicentenary Planning Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableJusticeWardTheHonourableJusticeBellTheHonourableJusticeLeemingTheHonourableJusticeKuncTheHonourableJusticeMcCallum
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Sydney Institute of Criminology Advisory Committee
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice
Uniform Rules CommitteeTheCivil Procedure Act 2005(NSW)andtheUniformCivilProcedureRules2005(NSW)commencedin2005,consolidatingprovisionsinrelationtocivilprocedureunderasingleAct.ItprovidesacommonsetofrulesforcivilproceedingsintheSupreme,DistrictandLocalCourtsofNewSouthWales,and,toalimitedextent,intheLandandEnvironmentCourtofNewSouthWalesandtheIndustrialRelationsCommissionofNewSouthWales.TheUniformRulesCommitteewasestablishedunderSection8andSchedule2oftheAct.TheChiefJusticechairstheCommittee,withrepresentativesfromtheSupremeCourtandother
courts,aswellasfromtheNewSouthWalesBarAssociationandtheLawSocietyofNewSouthWales.TheCommitteemetfourtimesduring2017.AswellasconsideringamendmentstotheRules(undersection9oftheAct),theCommitteeapprovesformsforuseincivilproceedings(undersection17oftheAct).
Members during 2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice
(Chair)TheHonourableJusticeBellTheHonourableJusticeAdamsonTheHonourableJusticeLindsayTheHonourableJusticePreston,ChiefJudge,
LandandEnvironmentCourtHerHonourJudgeOlsson,DistrictCourtHisHonourJudgeLetherbarrow,DistrictCourtHerHonourMagistrateJenniferAtkinson,
LocalCourtHisHonourMagistrateMichaelO’Brien,LocalCourtMsCarolWebsterSC(NewSouthWales
BarAssociation)MrDavidHing(LawSocietyofNSW)MrJonProwse(LawSocietyofNSWalternate
representative)MrChrisD’Aeth,ExecutiveDirectorandPrincipal
RegistrarMsRebelKenna,DirectorandProthonotary
(Secretary)
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APPENDIX (III): OTHER JUDICIAL ACTIVITY
Inadditiontohearinganddeterminingcases,theCourt’sjudicialofficersactivelycontributetotheongoingprofessionaldevelopmentofthelegalcommunitydomesticallyandabroad.Theircontributionsencompassactivitiessuchaspresentingpapersandspeechesatconferencesandseminars,submittingarticlesforpublication,givingoccasionallecturesateducationalinstitutions,meetingjudicialofficersfromcourtsaroundtheworldandhostingdelegations.Manyjudicialofficersarealsoappointedtoboards,commissionsandcommitteesforawiderangeoflegal,culturalandbenevolentorganisations.TheJudges’andAssociateJudge’sactivitiesduring2019aresummarisedbelowinchronologicalorder.
JudicialofficersgenerallyuseprivatefundstocovertravelandaccommodationcostswhenattendingaconferenceorspeakingengagementoutsideAustralia.However,theNSWDepartmentofCommunitiesandJusticeprovidesfundingtowardsattendanceatseveralkeyofficialeventseachyear.TheseeventsareidentifiedascriticaltopromotingtheCourt’sreputationandrolewithintheAsia-Pacificregionasacentreforcommercialdisputeresolution,anddemonstratingitscommitmentgloballytowardsdevelopingethicaljudicialprocesses.
Theeventsjudicialofficersattendedduring2019withfinancialassistancewere:
Event date Recipient of travel grant Purpose of overseas visit
13–14Mar2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJusticeofNewSouthWales
AttendedtheSwearing-inWinkelmannCJ
13–14Mar2019TheHonourableJusticeWard,ChiefJudgeinEquity
AttendedtheSwearing-inWinkelmannCJ
1–4April2019 TheHonourableJusticeBlackAttendedtheINSOLInternationalJudicialColloquium
3–7Jun2019 TheHonourableJusticeRothmanAM AttendedtheInternationalCriminalCourtMoot
11–12Jul2019TheHonourableJusticeBell,President,CourtofAppeal
AttendedtheAustralianBarAssoc.Conference'Convergence'
2–4Sep2019 TheHonourableJusticeDavies AttendedtheSuccessionLawConference
2–4Sep2019 TheHonourableJusticeHallen AttendedtheSuccessionLawConference
15–19Sep2019 TheHonourableJusticeWaltonAttendedthe62ndAnnualMeetingofInternationalAssoc.ofJudges
21–22Oct2019TheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJusticeofNewSouthWales
AttendedtheCouncilofChiefJusticesMeeting
5–8Nov2019TheHonourableJusticeWard,ChiefJudgeinEquity
Attendedthe32ndLawAsiaConference
25–27Nov2019TheHonourableJusticeBell,President,CourtofAppeal
AttendedtheINBA's68thConstitutionDay
Privatefundingsourceswereusedtoattendallotherconferencesorspeakingengagementsinoverseasdestinationsdetailedinthisappendix.
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THE HONOURABLE T F BATHURST AC, CHIEF JUSTICE OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Conferences:
19-23Jan2019 Supreme&FederalCourtsConference(Hobart)
14-16Feb2019 6thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(Sydney)
9-10Jul2019 InternationalSocietyfortheReformofCriminalLawConference(Brisbane)
18Jul2019 ConstitutionalRecognitionSymposium(Sydney)
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral,NSW)
14Sep2019 BlueMountainsLawRegionalSocietySuccessionLawConference(MedlowBath,NSW)
21-27Oct2019 53rdMeetingoftheCouncilofChiefJustices(Wellington,NZ)
Speaking engagements:
30Jan2019 Speech:“WhojudgestheJudgesandhowshouldtheybejudged?”,LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesOpeningofLawTermDinner
5Feb2019 Speech:OpeningofLawTermGreekOrthodoxChurchService
6Feb2019 Speech:OpeningofLawTermJewishService
14Feb2019 Speech:“Themysteriesofjudicialpower:definingtherelationshipbetweenlawandpowerinthemodernState”,WintertonMemorialLecture2019
15Feb2019 WelcomeRemarks:6thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation
27Feb2019 Speech:FarewellCeremonyforTheHonourableJusticeMargaretBeazleyAO,PresidentoftheCourtofAppeal
27Feb2019 AdjudicationofAILAMoot
16Mar2019 Speech:“Isdiscretionthebetterpartofsentencing?”,PublicDefendersCriminalLawConference
22Mar2019 Speech:“Notamaster,butateacher:theroleoftheJudicialCommissionofNSW”,LawCouncilofAustraliaDirectors’Dinner
5Apr2019 Speech:Theplaceofreligiouslawinapluralistsociety”,2019AloysianLawLunch
10Apr2019 WelcomeRemarks:FLIPStreamSeminar,“FutureofLawandInnovationintheLegalProfession”
16Apr2019 Speech:“Definingthepublicinterest:wherelawyersfeartotread?”,PublicInterestSymposiumjointlyhostedbyUNSWCanberraandtheOfficeoftheNSWOmbudsman
23May2019 Speech:‘“Easierforacameltopassthroughtheeyeofaneedle”:thelessonsforaustraliafrombrexit’,AnnualMichaelO’DeaOrationaspartoftheAnnualPrizegivingceremonyoftheUniversityofNotreDameAustralia,SchoolofLaw.
28May2019 AdjudicationofMULSGrandFinalMoot
7Jun2019 Speech:LawGraduationCeremonyattheUniversityofSydney
27Jun2019 BookLaunch:“EthicalLegalPracticeandProfessionalConduct”byFrankEsparraga
10Jul2019 Speech:“Thefuturedirectionofanti-corruptioncommissions:anAustralianlegalperspective”,InternationalSocietyfortheReformofCriminalLaw
31Jul2019 BookLaunch:“JestingPilateandOtherPapersandAddress”editedbySusanCrennanandWilliamGummow
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8Aug2019 Speech:“Demystifyingjudicialcommissions”,FederalCircuitCourtofAustralia2019Plenary
9Aug2019 Speech:4thAnnualAustralianAlternativeDisputeResolutionAwardsDinner
14Aug2019 Speech:MemorialfortheHonDavidHuntAOQC
20Aug2019 BookLaunch:TheWindeyerLegacy–LegalandMilitaryPapersbyBruceDebelle
23Aug2019 Welcomeremarks:SupremeCourtAnnualConference
5Sep2019 BookLaunch:“HeydononContract”byJDHeydon
14Sep2019 Speech:“Deathandtaxes:thepolicyofsuccessionlaw”,BlueMountainsLawRegionalSocietySuccessionLawConference
19Sep2019 Speech:“Atoughnuttocrack:thehistoryofthelegalprofessioninNewSouthWales”,FrancisForbesSocietyAustralianLegalHistoryTutorial
9Oct2019 Speech:UTSLSSAllensIntervarsityLegalTechnologyLawMoot
16Oct2019 Speech:“‘SomethingMore,SomethingLess’:TheContemporaryMeaningOfOpenJustice”,CAMLAOpenJusticeSeminar
17Oct2019 OpeningRemarks:NewSouthWalesBarristers’ClerksAssociationConference
28Oct2019 Speech:2019SilksBows
29Oct2019 OpeningRemarks:“Doesthemoderncorporationhaveafuture?”,SupremeCourtCorporateandCommercialLawConference
29Oct2019 Speech:Remarksonthe50thAnniversaryoftheCouncilofLawReportingNSW
1Nov2019 Speech:“ManagingtheMedia”paneldiscussion,NationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaConference
27Nov2019 BookLaunch:“TheAssociationofSoutheastAsianNationsConsumerLawHarmonisationandCooperation”byLukeNottageetal.
28Nov2019 BookLaunch:“Hammerschlag’sCommercialCourtHandbook”byDavidHammerschlag
Publications:
“WhojudgestheJudges,andhowshouldtheybejudged?”,AsianJurist,Issue4,Apr2019
“Directors’andOfficers’DutiesintheAgeofRegulation”inPamelaHanrahanandAshleyBlack(eds),ContemporaryIssuesinCorporateandCompetitionLaw:EssaysinHonourofProfessorRobertBaxtAO(LexisNexis,2019).
“WhojudgestheJudges,andhowshouldtheybejudged?”,TheJudicialReview,Oct2019
“WhojudgestheJudges,andhowshouldtheybejudged?”,Media&ArtsLawReview(2019)23MALR117.
"'SomethingMore,SomethingLess':TheContemporaryMeaningofOpenJustice",(2019)38(4)CommunicationsLawBulletin.
"GuestBlog:ChiefJusticeBathurst'slaunchofAsianLawbooks"(28November2019),JapaneseLawandtheAsia-Pacific,TheUniversityofSydney.
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Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
President(Chair)oftheJudicialCommissionofNSW
ChairoftheSupremeCourtRuleCommittee
ChairoftheUniformRulesCommittee
ChairoftheJudicialSectionofLAWASIA
Delegations and international assistance:
14-16Feb2019 Hostedthe6thJudicialSeminarinCommercialLitigationwithjudgesfromHongKong,NewZealand,thePeople’sRepublicofChina,SingaporeandtheFederalCourtofAustraliaattending.
5Mar2019 OfficialvisittoNewSouthWalesbySirGibbsSalika,ChiefJusticeofPapuaNewGuinea.
19Mar2019 DelegationfromtheMinistryofLaw,JusticeandParliamentaryAffairsinBangladeshhostedbytheLawSchoolfromWesternSydneyUniversityParramattaSouthCampus.
2Apr2019 Hostedthe52ndMeetingoftheCouncilofChiefJustices.
6May2019 OfficialvisitbyHisExcellencyMrGuZiaojie,ConsulGeneralofthePeople’sRepublicofChina,andaccompaniedbyDeputyConsulGeneralZhaoWenfeiandViceConsulJiaXiaopan.
29May2019 OfficialvisittoNewSouthWalesbyHerExcellencytheHonourableDameAnnetteKing,HighCommissionerofNewZealand,andaccompaniedbyMrBillDobbie,ConsulGeneralofNewZealand.
20Jun2019 OfficialvisitbyHisExcellencyMrPaulGulleikLarsen,AmbassadorofNorway.
8Aug2019 OfficialvisitbyHisExcellencyMrMohammadSufiurRahman,HighCommissionerofBangladeshandaccompaniedbyMrKhandkerAlam,Consul-GeneralofBangladeshinSydneyandMsFaridaYasmeen,PoliticalCounsellor.
15Aug2019 DelegationfromTheHighCourtofHongKongledbyMrJusticeTonyPoontodiscussourOnlineRegistry.
20Aug2019 DelegationfromSupremeCourtofThailandledbythePresidentoftheCourtofAppeal(Region6),MrSuphotKittiraksanon.Mainareaofinterestwasinformationandtechnologyinthecourtroom.
22Aug2019 DelegationfromSupremeCourtofthePhilippinesleadbyHon.LucasP.Bersamin.Mainareaofinterestwasanticorruptionandterrorism.
18Sep2019 OfficialvisitbyHisExcellencyMrSérgioEduardoMoreiraLima,AmbassadorofBrazilandaccompaniedbyMrSergioEBath,ConsulGeneralofBrazil.
15Oct2019 OfficialVisitbyHisExcellencyDrIstvánMikola,AmbassadorofHungaryandaccompaniedbytheAmbassador’swife,MrsMelindaViolettaHorváth,andtheConsulGeneralofHungaryinSydney,MrOlivérBalázsFráter.
29Oct2019 OfficialVisitbyHisExcellencyMrMasahikoKiya,Consul-GeneralofJapan,andaccompaniedbyConsulTanakaNoriko.
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BELL, PRESIDENT OF THE COURT OF APPEAL
Conferences:
6Mar2019 2019Bathurstlecture,‘Isthemoderncompanyfitforpurpose’,deliveredbyMrGrahamBradleyAM(BancoCourt,Sydney)
1-5Apr2019 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Adelaide)
2May2019 SwearinginofHerExcellencytheHonourableMargaretBeazleyAOQC,asGovernorofNewSouthWales(GovernmentHouse,Sydney)
7May2019 OpeningofNSWParliamentbyHerExcellencytheHonourableMargaretBeazleyAOQC,GovernorofNewSouthWales(ParliamentHouse,Sydney)
17May2019 BenchandBarDinner(HyattRegency,Sydney)
7Jun2019 HonoraryAwardCeremonyforconferralofDoctorofLawsupontheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice(TheGreatHall,UniversityofSydney)
28Jun2019 UnveilingofportraitofKatrinaDawson(NSWBarAssociationCommonRoom)
18Jul2019 Gilbert+TobinSymposium,‘UluruStatementfromtheHeart:IndigenousConstitutionalRecognition’(Gilbert+Tobin,Sydney)
31Jul2019 Booklaunch,JestingPilateAndOtherPapersandAddressesbyTheRightHonourableSirOwenDixon(3rded),launchedbytheHonourableMurrayGleesonACQC(BancoCourt,Sydney)
5Aug2019 TheMasonConversationwiththeHonourableMichaelMcHughACQC(BancoCourt,Sydney)
14Aug2019 MemorialservicetohonourthelifeoftheHonourableDavidHuntAOQC(BancoCourt,Sydney)
15Aug2019 FrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistoryLecture,‘OurfirstandonlyblackChiefJusticemeetsracisminAustralia’,deliveredbytheHonourableMichaelKirbyACCMGandProfessorStefanPetrow(NSWBarAssociationCommonRoom)
28Aug2019 TheJohnLehaneMemorialLecture,‘Theinterfacebetweencontractandequity’,deliveredbytheRightHonourableLordSales,JusticeoftheSupremeCourtoftheUnitedKingdom(BancoCourt,Sydney)
29Aug2019 TheSirMauriceByersLecture,‘TheConstitutionalSignificanceoftheBarristerinAustralia’,deliveredbytheHonourableJusticeWalterSofronoff,PresidentoftheCourtofAppealofQueensland(BancoCourt,Sydney)
7-8Sep2019 SymposiuminhonourofProfessorLeslieZinesAO:KeyissuesinAustralianFederalConstitutionalLaw(AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra)
19Sep2019 FrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistoryLecture,‘Atoughnuttocrack:ThehistoryoftheLegalProfessioninNewSouthWales’,deliveredbytheHonourableTFBathurstAC,ChiefJustice(BancoCourt,Sydney)
24Sep2019 FourthAnnualLysicratesFoundation,SirJamesMartinOrationdeliveredbytheHonourableJusticeVirginiaBellAC(Gilbert+Tobin,Sydney)
3Oct2019 AustralianDisputesCentre2019ADRAddress,‘ConflictsofInterestinCommercialArbitration’,deliveredbyHerExcellencytheHonourableMargaretBeazleyAOQC,GovernorofNewSouthWales(BancoCourt,Sydney)
18Oct2019 StateMemorialservicetohonourthelifeoftheHonourableJaneMathewsAO(SydneyOperaHouse)
74
24Oct2019 LawSocietyofNewSouthWalesAnnualMembersDinner(SydneyTownHall)
29Oct2019 TheCouncilofLawReportingNSW-50thanniversarycelebration(SupremeCourt,Sydney)
6Nov2019 FrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistoryLecture,‘HenryVIII’sWillandthePoliticsofSuccession’,deliveredbytheHonourableJohnPBrysonQC(BancoCourt,Sydney)
Speaking engagements:
28Feb2019 Occasionaladdress,swearinginceremonyasPresidentoftheCourtofAppeal(BancoCourt,Sydney)
15Mar2019 OccasionaladdressasActingChiefJusticetoadmissionoflawyersceremony(BancoCourt,Sydney)
28Mar2019 JudgeforUniversityofSydneyInternationalCommercialArbitrationMoot(UniversityofSydney)
28May2019 JudgeforSirJohnPedenContractLawMoot(UniversityofSydney)
30May2019 Closingaddress,BarPracticeCourse(NSWBarAssociationCommonRoom)
4Jun2019 SwearinginceremonyasAdministratoroftheStateofNewSouthWales(GovernmentHouse,Sydney)
7Jun2019 Occasionaladdress,UniversityofSydneyGraduationCeremonyforgraduandsofSydneyLawSchool(TheGreatHall,UniversityofSydney)
28Jun2019 Occasionaladdress,LegalProfessionAdmissionBoardGraduationCeremony(TheGreatHall,UniversityofSydney)
12Jul2019 Guestspeaker,AustralianBarAssociationConvergence,‘AnAustralianInternationalCommercialCourt-NotaBadIdeaorWhataBadIdea?’,(Singapore)
23Aug2019 Speaker,SupremeCourtAnnualConference,‘PrivateInternationalLawinPracticeAcrosstheDivisions:SomeRecentDevelopmentsandCaseLaw’(Bowral)
2Sep2019 Dinnerspeaker,StPaul’sCollegeLawFacultyDinner,‘WhatAlbertdidandwhatAlbertdidnext:AlbertBathurstPiddington–theHighCourtjudgewhoneversat’(UniversityofSydney)
5Sep2019 BookLaunch,HeydononContract(BancoCourt,Sydney)
7Sep2019 DinnerSpeaker,SymposiuminhonourofProfessorLeslieZinesAO:KeyissuesinAustralianFederalConstitutionalLaw’(AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra)
17Sept2019 Keynoteaddress,UNSWConflictofLawsstudents,‘TheobjectivesofprivateinternationallawandtheimportanceofthesubjecttopracticeinNSW’(UNSWLawSchool,UniversityofNewSouthWales)
26Sep2019 Closingaddress,BarPracticeCourse(NSWBarAssociationCommonRoom)
8Oct2019 Keynoteaddress,NotreDameSydneyLawSocietyBreakfast,'DisruptionintheLaw'(UniversityofNotreDame,Sydney)
14Oct2019 JudgeforUNSWLawSocietyBeginnersMootingCompetitionGrandFinal(Ashurst,Sydney)
21Oct2019 Guestspeaker,NCATMembersTrainingDay,‘DeliveringreasonsintheTribunalContext’(NSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal,Sydney)
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25Oct2019 Guestspeaker,EnvironmentandPlanningLawAssociation(NSW)AnnualConference,‘CourtofAppealUpdate’(WhitehouseInstituteofDesign,Sydney)
29Oct2019 Chair,SupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesAnnualCorporateandCommercialLawConference,‘TheFutureoftheAustralianBusinessCorporation:Alegalperspective’,deliveredbytheHonourableJusticeJamesEdelman(BancoCourt,Sydney)
8Nov2019 OccasionaladdressasActingChiefJusticetoadmissionoflawyersceremony(BancoCourt,Sydney)
12Nov2019 Keynoteaddress,CPDsession,‘AcareerattheBarandobservationsonpractice’(SparkeHelmore,Sydney)
13Nov2019 Chair,FrancisForbesSociety,AnnualPlunkettLecture,‘LawandPolitics:Attorneys-GeneralinEighteenth-CenturyEngland’,deliveredbyEmeritusProfessorWilfridPrest(BancoCourt,Sydney)
26Nov2019 Keynoteaddress,IndianNationalBarAssociation8thInternationalConferenceonLaw&Policy,‘TransnationalCommercialDisputeResolution:anAustralianperspective’(NewDelhi,India)
12Dec2019 Keynoteaddress,The2019QuaysideChambersOration,‘Gambling,theLawandthe21stCentury’(QuaysideChambers,Perth)
Publications:
MDavies,ASBell,PLGBreretonandMDouglas,Nygh’sConflictofLawsinAustralia(LexisNexisButterworths,10thed,2019)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberoftheChiefJustice’sExecutiveCommittee
OfficialMemberoftheJudicialCommissionofNSW
MemberoftheSupremeCourtRulesCommittee
MemberoftheUniformRulesCommittee
AdjunctProfessorofLaw,UniversityofSydneyLawSchool(2008-)
Delegations and international assistance:
13Nov2019 Officialvisit:HisExcellencyMrAbdullaAlSaboosi,AmbassadoroftheUnitedArabEmiratesaccompaniedby:MrAbdullaAlAhmed,HeadoftheConsularSectionattheEmbassy;MrAmadaldeinMohamed,SeniorPoliticalResearcher;MrAbdulazizAlJunaibi,DeputyofthePoliceAttachés;andLieutenantColonelAbdullaAlKaabi,DeputyoftheMilitaryAttachés
20Nov2019 Officialvisit:HisExcellencyMrLukeDaunivalu,HighCommissioneroftheRepublicofFijiaccompaniedby:MsSaloteTagivakatini,Counsellor,HighCommissionoftheRepublicofFiji,MrDanielStow,Officer-in-ChargeandManagerTrade&Investment,FijiConsulateGeneral&TradeCommission,Australia&NewZealand;MsZoieCarroll,Business&CommunicationsAdviser,FijiConsulateGeneralandTradeCommission,Australia&NewZealand;andMsMartaPratnicka,ProtocolOfficer,DepartmentofPremierandCabinet
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BASTEN
Conferences:
20-21Jan2019 SupremeCourtandFederalCourtJudges’Conference(Hobart)
15Feb2019 Gilbert+TobinConstitutionalLawConference(Sydney)
31May2019 MelbourneLawSchoolWorkshop“ThecontributionoflegalacademicstothedevelopmentofAustralianlaw”(Melbourne)
26Jul2019 CentreforComparativeConstitutionalStudiesConference(Melbourne)
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
Speaking Engagements:
26March2019 Chair“Howtoprepareandrunandadministrativelawcase”NSWBarCouncilLecture(Sydney)
Publications:
“TheCourtsandtheExecutive:aJudicialView”:chapterin“AdministrativeRedressinandoutofthecourts:EssaysinHonourofRobinCreykeandJohnMcMillan”(TheFederationPress,April2019)
“LegislativePurposeandStatutoryInterpretation”:chapterin“TheCoherenceofStatutoryInterpretation”–(TheFederationPress,July2019)
BookReviewof“PublicLawandStatutoryInterpretation–PrinciplesandPractice”byBurton,Crawford,Boughey,CastanandO’Sullivan(TheFederationPress,2017):ALJ2019;Vol93/1
ALJStatutoryInterpretation“LegislativeIntention”:Vol93/5
ALJStatutoryInterpretation“StatuteandtheCommonLaw”Vol93/12
Appointments to legal, cultural or ben evolent organisations:
Chair,JudicialCommissionofNSWStandingAdvisoryCommitteeonJudicialEducation
Chair,SupremeCourtEducationCommittee
Member,EditorialBoardofTheJudicialReview,JournaloftheJudicialCommissionofNSW
Member,SupremeCourtCaselawGovernanceCommittee
Member,LawCourtsLibraryAdvisoryCommittee
Member,AdvisoryCommittee,G&TCentreofPublicLaw
Chair,AustralianInstituteofAdministrativeLaw,NSWChapter(AIAL)
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE MACFARLAN
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
77
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE WARD, CHIEF JUDGE IN EQUITY
Conferences:
19-23Jan2019 Supreme&FederalCourtsJudges'Conference(Hobart)
8Mar2019 ABAInternationalWomen'sDay2019(Sydney)
26Mar2019 King&WoodMallesons,‘MentoringDiversity’PanelDiscussion(Sydney)
15Jun2019 AIJACouncilmeeting(Brisbane)
12Oct2019 AIJACouncilmeeting(Melbourne)
Speaking Engagements:
13-16Feb2019 Chairsessionatthe6thJudicialCommercialConference,"Developmentsininternationalcommercialarbitrationandtheroleofthecourts"(Sydney
27Feb2019 ClosingaddressattheUNSWCLE:ThefutureofAustralianclassactionsconference,Sydney(paperonly)
15May2019 PracticeintheEquityDivisionoftheSupremeCourt-ViewsfromtheBench
17May2019 GuestofHonourspeechattheNSWBarAssociationBenchandBarDinner(Sydney)
23May2019 OpeningaddresstotheNSWBarAssociation-BarPracticeCourse'BarReadersPracticeCourse-TheEquityDivision'(Sydney)
27May2019 JudgeintheGrandFinaloftheUNSWPrivateLawMoot(Sydney)
13-14Jun2019 PresenterattheCurrentLegalIssuesSeminar,BarAssociationofQueensland,"What'sinaname?TheTaxonomicalandConceptualDividebetweenUnjustEnrichmentandEquity"(Brisbane)
9Aug2019 PresenterattheBooklaunch“EquityPracticeandPrecedents"(Sydney)
4Oct2019 KeyNoteAddressandJudgingpaneloftheSULSWomen'sMoot(Sydney)
21Oct2019 PresidingJudgeattheGrandFinalofthe11thCIArbAustrlaia/NSWYoungLawyersInternationalArbitrationMoot(Sydney)
30Oct2019 DinnerspeakerattheStGeorgeSutherlandLawwSocietyDinner(Sydney)
15Nov2019 ModeratorattheWomen'sInsolvencyNetworkAustraliaGreatDebate2019(Sydney)
Publications:
Foreword,ContractandtheAustralianConsumerLawbyJohnCarterandLainaChan
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChairoftheSupremeCourtADRSteeringCommittee
MemberandFellowofTheAustralianAcademyofLaw
MemberoftheAIJACouncil
ReviewCommittee
78
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE GLEESON
Conferences:
14-16Feb2019 6thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation,SupremeCourt,Sydney
22Feb2019 CommercialLawAssociation,ContractMasterClass(NSWStateLibrary)
14Mar2019 RoundTableonIntentioninTortLaw(Sydney)
20Aug2019 Cross-JurisdictionalSeminar–ForensicScienceintheCourtroom–JudicialCommission(Sydney)
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtJudgesConference(GibraltarHotel,Bowral)
28Aug2019 JohnLehaneMemorialLecture(BancoCourt,Sydney)
29Oct2019 SupremeCourtCorporateandCommercialLawConference(Sydney)
Speaking Engagements:
22Feb2019 Chair,CommercialLawAssociation,ContractMasterClass(NSWStateLibrary)
16Feb2019 6thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation,SydneySession5–“ContractLaw:Comparativeperspectivesandrecentdevelopments”(SupremeCourt,Sydney)
12Feb2019 AddresstoAlbionParkHighSchoolstudents,RuleofLawInstitute,Sydney(SupremeCourt,Sydney)
15May2019 Judge–SULSTortsLawMoot–GrandFinal–UniversityofSydney(CamperdownCampus)
23Jul2019 AddresstoMontgroveCollegestudents,RuleofLawInstitute,Sydney(SupremeCourt,Sydney)
9Oct2019 Judge–UNSWLawSociety–AshurstIntermediateMootingCompetition–GrandFinal2019–Ashurst,Sydney
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE LEEMING
Conferences:
15Feb2019 Gilbert+Tobin18thConstitutionalLawConference(Sydney)
16Feb2019 6thJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation(Sydney)
14Mar2019 RoundtableonIntentioninTortLaw(Sydney)
31May2019 “Contributionoflegalacademicstothedevelopmentofthelaw”(Melbourne)
16-17Aug2019 IntersectionsinPrivateLaw,UniversityofSydney(Sydney)
30-31Aug2019 BankingandFinancialServicesConference(GoldCoast)
7-8Sep2019 SymposiumtohonourProfessorLeslieZinesAO:KeyIssuesinAustralianFederalConstitutionalLaw(Canberra)
3-4Oct2019 ConferenceinhonourofLordSumption,CambridgePrivateLawCentre,UniversityofCambridge(UnitedKingdom)
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Speaking engagements:
7Mar2019 JudgingexhibitionJessupmoot(UniversityofSydney)
29Mar2019 “SeventeenpointsonadvocacyintheNSWCourtofAppeal”,ToongabbieLegalCentre,EquityandTaxSeminar,Sydney
30Mar2019 “SeventeenpointsonadvocacyintheNSWCourtofAppeal”,NSWBarAssociation,SydneyCPDConference,Sydney
5,6Apr2019 “StatutoryFoundationsofNegligence”(LLMcourse,UniversityofSydney)
23Apr2019 RecurringthemesintheNSWCourtofAppeal(DistrictCourt,AnnualConference,Bowral)
3-4May2019 “StatutoryFoundationsofNegligence”(LLMcourse,UniversityofSydney)
13Jun2019 WorkshoponLegislationandEquity(ParliamentaryCounsel’sOffice,Sydney)
17Jun2019 LaunchofVolume42(2)ofUNSWLJ(HerbertSmithFreehills,Sydney)
15Aug2019 SpeechinhonouroftheRightHonourableSirOwenDixonOMGCMG1886-1972,AustralianClub,Sydney
17Aug2019 IntersectionsinPrivateLaw,chairofmorningsession,UniversityofSydney
30Aug2019 “FromtheBench–caselawupdate”,BankingandFinancialServicesConference,GoldCoast
18Sep2019 “ContributoryNegligenceandtheLastOpportunityRuleinAustraliaandIreland”(TrinityCollegeDublin,Ireland)
18Oct2019 “Equityin21stcenturycommercialdisputes”(CambridgePrivateLawCentre;UniversityofCambridge)
24Oct2019 “TheStatutoryFoundationsofNegligence–theLastOpportunityRuleandStatutes”(ObligationsDiscussionGroup,KebleCollege,UniversityofOxford)
25Oct2019 “EquityinAustraliaandtheUnitedKingdom:dissonanceandconcordance”(InstituteofEuropeanandComparativeLaw,OxfordLawFaculty)
22Nov2019 “Judge-madelawandstatute–acomplexinterwovenfabric:SelecteddecisionsfromWesternAustralia”,SupremeCourtofWesternAustraliaAnnualConference,Perth
Publications:
"PipikosvTrayans–TheHighCourtRevisitsPartPerformance”(2019)93ALJ91
TheStatutoryFoundationsofNegligence(FederationPress)
“StatutoryInterpretationasPrivateLaw”,inPVinesandSDonald,StatutoryInterpretationinPrivateLaw(FederationPress)
“Fashioningthekeystoneofthefederalstructure-Dixon'sinfluenceons109oftheConstitution”inJEldridgeandTPilkington(eds)“SirOwenDixon’sLegacy”(FederationPress)
“Theroleofequityin21stcenturycommercialdisputes—Meetingtheneedsofanysophisticatedandsuccessfullegalsystem”47AustralianBarReview137
"Fusion-Fission-Fusion:Pre-JudicatureEquityJurisdictioninNewSouthWales1824-1972"inJGoldbergetal(eds),EquityandLaw:FusionandFission,CambridgeUniversityPress,2019,pp118-143
“MarshallingSecuritiesandConstruingReleasesinEquity”(2019)93ALJ626
“StatutelawintheLawofObligations:DimensionsofFormandSubstance”,inARobertsonandJGoudkamp,FormandSubstanceintheLawofObligations,HartPublishing,2019,pp353-372
"HastheGoldenAgeofFraudPassed?"(2019)19OUCLJ298
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Appointments to Legal, Cultural or Benevolent Organisations:
ChallisLecturerinEquity,UniversityofSydney
AdvisoryCommittee,FrancisForbesSociety
Director,TheFederationPressPtyLtd
EditorialBoardmember:AustralianBarReview,JournalofEquity
Referee,PublicationCommitteeofMalaysianJudicialAcademy
Trustee,SydneyGrammarSchool
HerbertSmithFreehillsVisitingScholaratCambridge(October-November)
VisitingFellowatTrinityCollegeDublin(September)
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE PAYNE
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(GibraltarHotel,Bowral)
10Dec2019 InterrogatingtheEnglishApproachtoProsecutingEconomicCrime(FederalCourtofAustralia)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
AppointeeoftheChiefJusticetotheLegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE WHITE
Conferences:
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtConference(GibraltarHotel,Bowral)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Member,UniversityofSydneyLawExtensionCommittee
Commissions in Overseas Courts:
2-5Sep2019 SatasajudgeintheCourtofAppealofTonga2-13September2019
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BRERETON AM RFD
Speaking engagements:
24Aug2019 AustralianBraveryAssociation(NSW),GuestSpeaker,BallinaNSW
14Sep2019 BlueMountainsLawSociety,SuccessionConference–OpeningAddress,“Wills,EstatesandInheritanceDisputes”,HydroMajestic,MedlowBathNSW
2Oct2019 Speaker,QueenslandPoliceOperationalCommandContinuumCourse,“CommandResponsibility”,Brisbane
26Oct2019 AustralasianCollegeofLegalMedicineAnnualScientificMeeting,GuestSpeaker:“PsychologicalInjuryinVeteransandTheLaw”ParkHyatt,Canberra
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Publications:
Conclusion,“CommercialIssuesinPrivateInternationalLaw”,MichaelDouglasetal,June2019(HartPublishing)
Co-Author,Davies,Bell,Brereton,Douglas,“Nygh’sConflictofLawsinAustralia”(10thedition),LexisNexisButterworths
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
DeputyChair,NSWLawReformCommission
Chair,CostsAssessmentRulesCommittee
Chair,CostsAssessmentUserGroup
Member,HarmonisationofRulesCommittee
AssistantInspector-General,AustralianDefenceForce
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE WALTON
Conferences:
7-9Jun2019 JudicialConferenceofAustraliaColloquium2019(Darwin,NT)
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtofNSWAnnualConference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
22Mar2019 Presenter–Post-terminationRestraintClausesinEmploymentContracts,ToongabbieLegalCentreEmploymentLawSeminar(Ashurst,Sydney)
1Aug2019 Presenter–JurisdictionoftheIndustrialMagistrate,LocalCourtofNSWAnnualConference2019(AmoraJamisonHotel,Sydney)
15Aug2019 Chair–TheInauguralSULSvUniversityofQueensland‘MootofOrigin’(UniversityofSydney)
22Oct2019 Chair–NicholasCowderyQCCriminalLawMoot(UniversityofSydney)
Publications:
“JurisdictionoftheIndustrialMagistrate”,ConferencePaper,JudicialInformationResearchSystem
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
HonoraryProfessorialFellowwiththeSydneyBusinessSchooloftheUniversityofWollongong
ExecutiveCommittee,JudicialConferenceofAustralia
GoverningCounsel,JudicialConferenceofAustralia
EditorialCommittee,AustralianJournalofLabourLaw
Chair,ClubsAdvisoryCommittee,UniversityofSydney
Delegations and international assistance:
Delegate,TheInternationalAssociationofJudges
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE JOHNSON
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtofNewSouthWales-AnnualConference2019,Bowral
Speaking engagements:
6May2019 PresentationtoJudgesandLegalProfession-“TerrorismandMoneyLaundering”,PortVila,RepublicofVanuatu(organisedthroughVanuatuLawCouncil)
Publications:
JointauthorwiththeHonRNHowieQCofloose-leafserviceCriminalPracticeandProcedure(NSW),Sydney.
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ROTHMAN AM
Conferences:
14Feb2019 UniversityofSydneyandtheAustralianAssociationofConstitutionalLaw–2019GeorgeWintertonMemorialLecture:“TheMysteriesofJudicialPower:DefiningtheRelationshipBetweenLawandPowerintheModernState”[BathurstCJ](Sydney)
18Jul2019 Gilbert+TobinLegalSymposium:“UluruStatementfromtheHeart:IndigenousConstitutionalRecognition”[TheHon.A.M.GleesonACQC](Sydney)
20Aug2019 NSWJudicialCommissionCrossJurisdictionalSeminar:“ForensicScienceintheCourtroom”[DrLucinaHackman](Sydney)
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
6Nov2019 NgaraYuraFieldTrip:“LivingLanguage:Country,Culture,Community”(StateLibraryofNSW)
8Nov2019 PublicDefendersChambersBarBookProjectLaunchEvent:PresentationonSocialDisadvantage(Sydney)
21Nov2019 NSWJudicialCommissionCrossJurisdictionalTwilightSeminar:“RiskyBusiness”[AllanSparkesCV,OAM,VA,FRSN](Sydney)
Speaking engagements:
22Mar2019 KeynoteSpeaker:“TheCasualisationoftheWorkforceandtheEffectofContractingonRights”ToongabbieLegalCentreEmploymentLawSeminar(Sydney)
8May2019 Speech:“HowIhavetriedtohavetheCouragetoCaretobeanUpstander,inmyfamilylife,workingsituationandcommunityinvolvement”CouragetoCareFundraisingLunch(Sydney)
1Aug2019 KeynoteSpeaker:“Thepoweroflegalaid:Dietrichandthelastlineofdefence”LegalAidNSWAnnualCriminalLawConference(Sydney)
23Aug2019 PanelDiscussion:“Non-publicationandtake-downorders”SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
7Nov2019 KeynoteAddress,LegalAidNSW:40thAnniversary(Sydney)
28Nov2019 Opening:“Bugmy/Lewis/Kentwelllandscape”BarBookProjectCPDSeminar(Sydney)
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Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
President–TheGreatSynagogue(Sydney)
Director;BoardMember&ChairWorkplaceRelationsCommittee–NSWAssociationofIndependentSchools
Co-Chair–AustralianCouncilofJewishSchools
BoardMember–InternationalAssociationofJewishLawyersandJurists
Member–NationalIndigenousAwarenessCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
AdvisoryCommitteeMember–AustralianLawReformCommissionInquiryintotheReligiousExemptionsinAnti-DiscriminationLaw
LifeGovernor–MoriahWarMemorialCollege
HonoraryLifeMember;ExecutiveMember–NSWJewishBoardofDeputies
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE HAMMERSCHLAG
Conferences:
14-16Feb2019 6thJudicialCommercialSeminar
14Jun2019 CLAJudgesSeminarSeries-NSWStateLibrary-GuestSpeaker
Speaking engagements:
13Mar2019 UNSWBuilding&ConstructionLawSeminar-UNSWCBDCampus-OpeningRemarks
14Mar2019 CollegeofLawCBDCampus,ElizabethStreet-“BuildingandConstructionLawUpdate”OpeningRemarks
14Nov2019 UTSBuildingLawUpdateSeminar,Sydney
Publications:
Hammerschlag’sCommercialCourtHandbook–November2019
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ALRCCorporateCrimeAdvisoryCommittee
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE HARRISON
Conferences:
31Mar-5Apr2019
NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(NJOP)(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
29Oct2019 NSWBarAssociationSeminar“Everythingyoualwayswantedtoaskajudgebutaretooafraidtoask”
11-15Nov2019 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(NJOP)(Manly)
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Speaking engagements:
31Mar2019 Chair–WelcomeSpeech,NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
1Apr2019 Presentation“HowdoIManagemytimewithavailableresources”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
2Apr2019 Chair“Confrontingchallengesintheexerciseofdiscretions”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
4Apr2019 Chair“Self-representedlitigants”,“Managingculturaldiversitychallengesandtheuseofinterpreters”and“Practicalapplicationofculturalandinterpretingchallengesincourt”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
5Apr2019 Presentation–“FinalWrapUpSession”,NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Glenelg,SouthAustralia)
31Jul2019 GuestSpeaker–AfterDinnerSpeech-LegalaidNSWCriminalLawConference(DoltoneHouse)
10Nov2019 Chair–WelcomeSpeech,NationalJudicialOrientationProgram,Glenelg,SouthAustralia(GoldCoast,Queensland)
12Nov2019 Chair“Confrontingchallengesintheexerciseofdiscretions”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram,Glenelg,SouthAustralia(GoldCoast,Queensland)
14Nov2019 Chair“Managingculturaldiversitychallengesandtheuseofinterpreters”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram,Glenelg,SouthAustralia(GoldCoast,Queensland)
15Nov2019 Presentation“FinalWrapUpSession”NationalJudicialOrientationProgram,Glenelg,SouthAustralia(GoldCoast,Queensland)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChairoftheCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialOrientationProgram(NJOP)
EducationCommittee
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE FULLERTON
Speaking engagements:
30May2019 Graduationaddress–FacultyofLaw,MonashUniversity(Melbourne)
25Sep2019 Welcomespeech–BacktoBackTheatrepremiereof“Shadow”(Carriageworks,Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
BoardMemberoftheCityRecitalHall
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE REINAppointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberoftheRulesHarmonisationCommittee
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE HULME
Conferences:
21Nov2019 JudicialCommissionofNSW–seminar"RiskyBusiness"
Speaking engagements:
2-3Apr2019 NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia-Adelaide-NationalJudicialOrientationProgram–CourtCraft–TheTrialfromHell
23Apr2019 DistrictCourtConference-Bowral–presentedCriminalLawReviewandchairedpaneldiscussionEffectiveJuryManagement
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference–Bowral(providedpaperAYearofCriminalAppellateDecisions)
Publications:
Co-authorCriminalLawNews,LexisNexisButterworths
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chair,CriminalTrialCourtsBenchBookCommittee
Member,CourtofCriminalAppeal/CrimeUsersGroup
Member,CriminalAppealRulesCommittee
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SLATTERY AM RAN
Conferences:
19-20Jan2019 SupremeandFederalCourtJudges'2019Conference,Hobart.
2May2019 AustralianDefenceForceJointLegalIssuesWorkshop,Canberra.
27-28Jul2019 NSWNavyLegalPanelConferenceHMASCreswell,JervisBay.
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtJudges’Conference,Bowral.
16-17Nov2019 JudgeAdvocateGeneral’sConference,Canberra.
Speaking engagements:
9Apr2019 “WhatMakesaGoodMilitaryLawyer?”ADFLegalOfficersLTM1Course,VictoriaBarracks,Sydney.
2May2019 AfterDinnerSpeech-JointLegalIssuesWorkshop,Canberra.
26May2019 2019BoerWarDayService-ANZACMemorial,“CommemoratingtheBoerWar”.
29Aug2019 GuestofHonourandSpeakeratNSWBarAssociationCommonLawdrinks.
Publications:
ReportoftheJudgeAdvocateGeneraloftheAustralianDefenceForcetotheAustralianParliamentfortheperiod1Januaryto31December2018.
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Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
JudgeAdvocateGeneraloftheAustralianDefenceForcefrom14May2015
TrusteeoftheIndigenousBarristersTrust–TheMumShirlFundsince2006
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE DAVIES
Conferences:
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtConference
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BALL
Publications:
PrinciplesofInsuranceLaw,LexisNexis,co-authoredwithDavidStLKelly
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE GARLING RFD
Conferences:
21-23Jan2019 SupremeandFederalCourtsJudgesConference,HobartTasmania
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference
Speaking engagements:
31Jul-2Aug2019 LocalCourtAnnualConference–presenting“CivilUpdate”
1Nov2019 BureauofHealthInformation’sMasterclass-KollingInstitute
26-28Jul2019 LoretoMinistriesLtd–GovernanceColloquium–ImportanceofGovernanceinContemporarySchoolEnvironments
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chair,CivilTrialsBenchBookCommittee,JudicialCommissionofNSW(Chairfrom8.4.2019)
SupremeCourtEducationCommittee
Chair,SupremeCourtITCommittee
SupremeCourtCommonLawUsersGroup
Chair,LoretoMinistriesLtd
HonoraryPatron,CanReviveInc
Delegations and International Assistance:
15Aug2019 HongKongJudgesDelegation.
20Aug2019 ThailandJudgesDelegation
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BLACK
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtofNewSouthWalesAnnualConference
Speaking engagements:
14-16Feb2019 “CaseManagement:InnovationsandObstacles–presentationatSixthJudicialSeminaronCommercialLitigation.
29Mar2019 ConflictsofinterestregulationaftertheRoyalCommissionintoMisconductintheBanking,SuperannuationandFinancialServicesIndustry,PresentationforToongabbieLegalCentre.
Feb-May2019 Taughtcoursesinfinancialservicesregulation,Semester1,2019,UniversityofNewSouthWalesandConflictsofInterest,Semester1,2019,UniversityofSydney.
Publications:
Jointeditor,ContemporaryIssuesinCorporateandCompetitionLaw:EssaysinHonourofProfessorRobertBaxtAO,LexisNexis,2018
Jointauthor,SecuritiesandFinancialServicesLaw,9thed,LexisNexis,2016
Jointauthor,Austin&Black'sAnnotationstotheCorporationsAct,LexisNexis.
Contributor,AustralianCorporationLaw:PrinciplesandPractice,LexisNexis.
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
AdjunctProfessor,FacultyofLaw,UniversityofSydney
Fellow,AustralianAcademyofLaw
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ADAMSON
Conferences:
24Aug2019 SupremeCourtofNSWAnnualConference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
1Aug2019 Guestspeaker–LocalCourtAnnualConference“CriminalLawUpdate”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Member,SupremeCourtRulesCommittee
Member,UniformRulesCommittee
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BELLEW
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtJudge’sConference-Bowral
Speaking engagements:
16Mar2019 PublicDefender’sConference–CriminalPracticeandProcedure
20Mar2019 NSWBarAssociation–Cross-ExaminationWorkshop
30Mar2019 NSWBarAssociationConference
6Apr2019 ToongabbieLegalConference–ApplicationsundertheEvidenceAct
29Jul2019 Magistrate’sConference
11Sep2019 NotreDameUniversity,Sydney-GrandFinalMoot
28Sep2019 FinalMockTrial–NSWBarPracticeCourse
11Nov2019 JudicialOrientationProgram
Publications:
UniformEvidenceLaw–PrinciplesandContext(LexisNexisPublishing)–Co-author
RitchiesUniformCivilProcedure(NSW)–Co-author
MotorVehicleReports(LexisNexis)–ManagingEditor
AustralianUniformEvidence(LexisNexisPublishing)–Co-author
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chairman–JudiciaryPanel,NationalRugbyLeague
AdjunctProfessorofLaw–NotreDameUniversity,Sydney
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE STEVENSON
Conferences:
20-23Jan2019 SupremeCourtandFederalCourtJudges’Conference(Hobart)
30-31May2019 ParticipatedinpresentingNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia’sOralJudgmentsProgramtojudicialofficersoftheFamilyCourtofWesternAustraliaandtheWesternAustralianMagistratesCourt
2-4October2019 AttendedNationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaConference“ReflectionsontheJudicialFunction”(Adelaide)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
AppointedastheCourt’sRepresentativetotheJudicialLiaisonCommitteetotheAustralianCentreforInternationalCommercialArbitration
MemberoftheProgramAdvisoryCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
ChairoftheOralJudgmentsCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
MemberoftheWritingBetterJudgmentsCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
MemberoftheLeadershipintheCourtroomCommitteeoftheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia
ChairoftheSteeringCommitteeorganisingannualSupremeandFederalCourtJudgesconferences
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BEECH-JONES
Conferences:
7-9Jun2019 JCAColloquium(Darwin)
Speaking engagements:
3Jun2019 CollegeofLawPersonalInjuryConference“MentalTraumaandPsychiatricInjury”(Sydney)
21Oct2019 NCATConference“ProportionateJustice”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chair,CooperRiceBradingFoundation
BoardMember,Gilbert+TobinCentreAdvisoryCommittee
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE CAMPBELL
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference
Speaking engagements:
16Mar2019 KeyNoteaddress–PersonalInjuryandCommonLawConference
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE BUTTON
Conferences:
21-23Jan2019 Supreme&FederalCourtsJudges’Conference–(Hobart)
7-9Jun2019 JCAColloquium2019-(Darwin)
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference–(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember–LegalQualificationsCommittee–LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE LINDSAY
Conferences:
20Feb2019 Wills&EstatesConference/Seminar–OpeningRemarks
26Feb2019 LexisNexisSegmentConference–Panellist
10-13Jul2019 BritishLegalHisotryConference,StAndrews,Scotland
9-10Aug2019 LawSocietyofNSWSpecialistAccreditationConferenceJudgmentonDiscovery&SubpoenasinProbatematters
12Aug2019 NationalBiographyAward–PanelDiscussion,StateLibrary
31Aug2019 EasternSuburbsLawSocietyAnnualLawyersLearningforCharityConference
13-15Sep2019 BlueMountainsSuccessionConference
13Nov2019 AdvancedWills&EstatesConference–OpeningAddress
14Dec2019 ANZLHSConference
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Speaking engagements:
20Feb2019 CollegeofLawSeminar“Parties,PropertyandNoticeofProceedingsinSuccessionCases”
12Jul2019 BritishLegalHistoryConference“TheStudyofLegalHistory–APractitionersPerspective”
30Jul2019 CollegeofLaw“(In)capacity–ForWhat?
9Aug2019 NSWLawSociety“DiscoveryandSubpoenasinProbateMatters”
23Aug2019 JudgesAnnualConference“TheJudicialFunctionandthePublicDomain:ProceedingsintheEquityDivision”
31Aug2019 EasternSuburbsLawSociety“TheConceptof[‘Special’AdministrationofaDeceasedEstate
14Sep2019 SuccessionLawConference“RenderUntoCaesar:MedicineandLawinAssessmentsof(In)capacity.
13Nov2019 CollegeofLaw“ProbateLaw&Practice:AnAppetiteforChange”
Publications:
Editor,AustralianBarReview(since1996)
Co-Editor,NSWCivilProcedureHandbook,2019(ThomsonReuters)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
SeniorVicePresident,FrancisForbesSocietyforAustralianLegalHistory
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE HALLEN
Conferences:
16May2019 STEPConference(Queensland)
Speaking engagements:
14Mar2019 Wills&EstatesConference–UNSW-KeynoteAddress
19Mar2019 WillsandEstates-CollegeofLaw-KeynoteAddres
16May2019 STEPConference,Queensland–Speech
30Jul2019 UNSWWillsandEstatesSeminar:Speech
7Nov2019 Wills&EstatesLawUpdate:OpeningCommentary
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember–STEPAustralia
CommitteeMember–ADRSteeringCommittee
CommitteeMember–Wills&EstatesAdvisoryCommittee
CommitteeMember–CollegeofLaw
CommitteeMember–SupremeCourtBuildingCommittee
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE KUNC
Conferences:
9Jan2019 AustralianAccountantsLawyersandDirectorsconference,Aspen,Colorado
19-24Jan2019 Supreme&FederalCourtJudgesConference,Hobart
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference,PeppersBowral
Speaking engagements:
9Jan2019 “Howtostayoutofcourt”–ajudge’sperspective”AustralianAccountantsLawyersandDirectorsconference,Aspen,Colorado
21Mar2019 LitigationMasterclassSeminarCollegeofLaw:Tipsonhowbesttomeetjudicialexpectations:overviewfromtheBench
2-3May2019 JudgeinResidence,SchoolofLawandJustice,SouthernCrossUniversityincluding• Deliver“CourageasaLegalVirtue”,TheinauguralAndrewRogersLectureinPrivate
LawandLegalPractice• Participateinon-linediscussionwithlawstudents• Judgecontractlawmoot• Participateinapaneldiscussiononlegalpractice
15Oct2019 Anglo-AustralasianLawyersSociety,“AnAustralianJudgeamongtheAmericanJudiciary”
25Oct2019 CollegeofLaw–CityCampus,level16,111ElizabethStreet,Sydney–AdvocacySeminar:“Whatdoesthebenchexpectofadvocates?”
9Nov2019 E-conveyancingandCaveats–StAnthony’sPrimarySchoolfortheToongabbieLegalCentre’se-ConveyancinganditsFundamentalsconference.
11Nov2019 FamilyProvisionandArtificialIntelligence–UtopiaorDystopia?-AccreditedWillsandEstateSpecialistsGroup,Union,UniversityandSchoolsClub
7Dec2019 “TheJudgmentasRevelation”GoldCoastcampusofSouthernCrossUniversity-LSAANZConference5-7December2019
Publications:
ForewardtoDrNicoleRogers’book“Law,FictionandActivisminaTimeofClimateChange”
“TheViewfromOz”TheJudges’Journal(AmericanBarAssociation–JudicialDivision)Vol58,No3,Summer2019,p14
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
GeneralEditor,TheAustralianLawJournal
MemberEditorialBoard,JournalofEquity
Chairperson,LayneBeachleyAimfortheStarsFoundation
Director,OperaAustraliaCapitalFund
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ROBB
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
2-4Oct2019 ReflectionsonJudicialFunction(Adelaide)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Chairperson,LegalQualificationsCommittee,LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE DARKE
Publications:
GeneralEditoroftheButterworthPropertyReports
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberoftheLegalProfessionAdmissionsBoardExaminationsCommittee
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE WRIGHT
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference(Bowral)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
AIJACouncil
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE HAMILL
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
ChairofJointExaminationsCommittee–LegalProfessionAdmissionsBoard
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE WILSON
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 AnnualConferenceoftheLandandEnvironmentCourt,Cronulla
Speaking engagements:
11Apr2019 DeliveredapaperonBailApplicationsintheSupremeCourtataseminarfortheWomenBarristers’Forum
17May2019 Deliveredapaper,RecentCriminalDecisionsfromtheHighCourtandtheCourtofCriminalAppeal,attheAnnualConferenceoftheLandandEnvironmentCourt
May2019 BarPracticeCourse–ActedasajudgefortheSaturdayMockTrialforReaders
16Aug2019 HostedmorningteaaspartoftheBarAssociation’sprogramtoencouragewomentotakeupacareerasabarrister
Delegations and International Assistance:
10Jan2019 HosttoajudgeoftheNorwegianCourtofAppealforadayofviewingtheoperationoftheSupremeCourt
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THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE NATALIE ADAMS
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualConference,Bowral
Speaking engagements:
3Oct2019 JudgedthefinalofmootingcompetitionofAustralia’sFirstPeoples2019atUNSWLaw
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
CommitteeMember-LegalQualificationsCommittee,LegalProfessionAdmissionBoard-until30June2019
CommitteeMember–ADRSteeringCommittee
ChairoftheCommitteeoverseeingajointconferenceonsentencingheldbytheNationalJudicialCollegeofAustraliaandtheAustralianNationalUniversityCollegeofLaw-from1July2019
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE PARKER
Conferences:
23-24Aug2019 SupremeCourtAnnualJudges’Conference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
19Jun2019 ParticipateinblockchainandcryptocurrencyCPDheldbyCommercialLawSectionoftheBarAssociation
THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE ARMSTRONG
Conferences:
15Feb2019 Gilbert+TobinCentreofPublicLaw,ConstitutionalLawConference2019,SydneyNSW
31Mar-5Apr2019
JudicialOrientationProgram,NJCA,GlenelgSA
6-7Jun2019 CouncilofAustralianTribunals(COAT)NationalConference,MelbourneVIC
23-25Aug2019 NSWSupremeCourtJudgesConference,BowralNSW
6Sep2019 CouncilofAustralasianTribunals(COAT)NSWStateConference,SydneyNSW
21Oct2019 AllMemberNSWCivilandAdministrativeTribunal(NCAT)Conference,SydneyNSW
31Oct-1Nov2019
JudicialOfficerswithleadershipResponsibilities,SydneyNSW
Speaking engagements:
13Sep2019 SpeakeratWomen’sExecutiveLunch,InstituteofPublicAdministrationAustralia,NSWBranch,SydneyNSW–themeofpresentation:roleofwomeninleadingtheNSWpublicsectorandgenderequalityinleadership
23Oct2019 UniversityofWollongong,StudentLawSocietyDinner“Inspire”Evening,WollongongNSW
15Dec2019 Chairof“RecentCases”sessionatGilbert+TobinCentreofPubliclaw,ConstitutionalLawConference,SydneyNSW
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Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
MemberofAustralianInstituteofJudicialAdministration(AIJA)Council
MemberofAIJAResearchCommittee
MemberofAdvisoryCommittee,Gilbert+TobinCentreofPublicLaw
THE HONOURABLE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE HENRY
Conferences:
31Mar-6Apr2019 NationalJudicialOrientationProgram(Adelaide)
23-25Aug2019 SupremeCourtofNSWAnnualConference(Bowral,NSW)
Speaking engagements:
20Sep2019 Speaker–NSWBarAssociation“ADRintheSupremeCourt”(Sydney)
Appointments to legal, cultural or benevolent organisations:
Member,AdmissionsCommittee,LegalServicesCouncil
THE HONOURABLE ASSOCIATE JUSTICE IERACE
Conferences:
10-15Nov NationalJudicialCollegeofAustralia:NationalJudicialOrientationProgram2019(GoldCoast)
Speaking engagements:
30Oct Paper–The38thAnnualCourseoftheInternationalAssociationofLawLibraries:“CriminalLawinAustralia”(Sydney)
Supreme Court of New South Wales
Law Courts Building Queens Square 184 Phillip Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia
GPO Box 3 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
DX 829 Sydney
Email: [email protected] Internet: www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au
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