Max Blenkin’s article last week concerning Senator Bill Heffernan’s ill-informed attack on Ian Barker QC in the Senate Estimates Committee (“Society’s child porn disgrace”, Daily Telegraph, 23 May 2007) again provides an entirely misleading perspective...
The New South Wales Bar Association has today applied to have Nationwide News Pty Ltd charged with contempt of court for publishing in the Daily Telegraph the names of people who gave character statements in...
The Sunday Telegraph’s self-proclaimed “legal victory” – its decision to publish the names of those who provided written character statements for Dr Patrick Power - is nothing of the sort. “The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph...
Luke McIlveen's article concerning Ian Barker QC's role as Patrick Power's counsel in the Local Court ("The silk who wants us to believe we owe child porn lawyer freedom", Daily Telegraph, 26 April) utterly fails...
Pre-election promises to boost police numbers will count for nothing unless the wider criminal system is adequately funded, according to the president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Michael Slattery QC. 'Both major political parties...
By criticising a decision of Justice Nicola Pain of the Land and Environment Court as a narrow, ideological judgment in its editorial (“Pie-In-The–Sky On Coal, 30 November 2006), the Australian has fallen into the common...
Today's reports that a District Court jury requested extra pay following a five month trial highlight the poor pay and conditions for those who serve on juries in NSW, according to the president of the...
Posturing by major political parties ignores the interests of victims of crime and the criminal justice system, according to the president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Michael Slattery QC. Mr Slattery called on both...
The case of Tamworth pathologist Dr Farid Zaer suggests serious acts of medical negligence in the state’s hospital system affecting potentially hundreds of people. But harsh laws passed by Bob Carr’s government may prevent injured...
On 8 - 9 July 2006 The Weekend Australian published a picture of the Darlinghurst house belonging to Dr Patrick Power, a crown prosecutor charged with possessing child pornography on his computer. The photograph,...
Tracy Ong’s story concerning the resignation of Peter Breen MLC from the ALP “Labor MP quits after revealing his love for woman’s killers” (19/7) states that the NSW Bar Association asked Mr Breen to look...
During an interview with ABC Radio, Michael Slattery QC, President of the New South Wales Bar Association, denied claims by Peter Breen MLC that the association's Criminal Law Committee viewed the conviction of Stephen Jamieson...
Wherever a person is wrongly convicted of a serious crime, such as murder or rape, the true offender walks our streets, unpunished. The president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Michael Slattery QC, has called...
Frank Alan Button Frank Button is the first and only person in Australia to be released as a result of DNA evidence. A thirteen year old girl in an indigenous community in Queensland was raped in...
When reporting on the charges preferred against Crown Prosecutor Dr Patrick Power on 10 July 2006 the Daily Telegraph quoted the opposition justice spokesman Mr. Chris Hartcher MP as saying that “…it was essential that...
Thousands of victims injured through no fault of their own are struggling to receive fair compensation under current personal injury laws. The Law Society of NSW & the NSW Bar Association say the NSW Government...
Personal security is a right which is dear to us all. Today The Australian published under the heading “Favourite silks purse full of federal funds” a photograph and information about the private family home...
The president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Michael Slattery QC, has called upon the government to make three sensible, practical amendments to its controversial majority verdicts legislation. “Our three-point proposal is designed to reduce...
The New South Wales Bar Association media awards for excellence in journalism related to the law and justice have been announced. The two awards, covering both electronic and print media reports, are worth $2500 each....
Daily Telegraph, Saturday, 11 March 2006 What if a dissenting juror is right? During the week I wrote to all members of state parliament, urging them not to introduce majority verdicts for juries in criminal trials....
The New South Wales Bar Association has provided to all members of state parliament a DVD of the 1957 movie classic 12 Angry Men. It comes with a personal letter from the association’s president, Michael...
Published in The Australian, Legal Affairs section, 24 February 2006, p.26. Senator Heffernan is at it again. As was reported in the Australian on Saturday, 18 February he told a Senate Estimates Committee hearing...
Your front page article today under the banner headline 'Hypocrites' is an inaccurate account of the Chief Justice’s speech on Monday 30 January 2006 about civility. It is equally inaccurate about the behaviour of...
The inaugural New South Wales Bar Association media awards for excellence in journalism related to the law and justice have been announced. The two awards, covering both electronic and print media reports, are worth $2500...
Here we go again. The article by Michael Pelly ("Jail terms slashed to clear clogged courts', Herald, April 6) reports on the sensible Government initiative to introduce discounts on sentences in return for an early...
The president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ian Harrison SC, has called upon the barristers of New South Wales to donate one day's fees to one of the emergency appeals providing aid and...
Greg Barns, ‘lawyer and columnist’, should be more circumspect before criticising the ‘pampered judges in our highest courts’ (3 December). ‘That judges should have leave entitlements of anything more than four weeks in 2004 is...
The Bar Council has elected the Bar Association’s office holders for the year 2005. They are: President: Ian Harrison SC Senior Vice: President Michael Slattery QC Junior Vice: President Anna Katzmann SC Treasurer: Tom Bathurst QC Secretary: Robert...
Herald readers can be assured that the New South Wales Bar is definitely not in denial about the dangerous combination of alcohol and high stress which can accompany practice at the Bar (‘Time to stop...
The President of The New South Wales Bar Association, Ian Harrison SC, today announced the names of 25 barristers who have been appointed as Senior Counsel (SC). The successful applicants for 2004, in order...
Paul Sheehan made some pretty serious charges about the criminal justice system when it deals with complaints of sexual assault and went in very hard against judges (SMH, 6 September). As a barrister who has...
A statement from the Council of the Law Society of New South Wales The council has resolved to make a statement to the profession following reports of the widespread use of threats made by some practitioners...
Chris Merritt should do a little less writing or a lot more reading before he expresses opinions on "the intent of the rule of law". Philip Ruddock's so-called bankruptcy reforms are collapsing as they would...
The NSW Bar Association has pioneered an In-Home Emergency Child Care Scheme to assist barristers with young families in the running of their practice and to remove a perceived barrier to entry. ‘The NSW Bar is...
The following article was submitted to the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday, 4 March 2004, but was not published. What is no-win, no-fee litigation? The question has been given prominence recently by the plight of...
Paul Sheehan's piece ( 'The contempt is mutual, your honour' , SMH March 8, 2004) is opportunistic journalism at its worst. Moreover, it is couched in offensive and poisonous language to the great discredit of...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ian Harrison SC, flatly rejects calls for a Parliamentary Oversight Committee to be imposed upon the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. ‘Mr Tink’s proposal...
The President of The New South Wales Bar Association, Bret Walker SC, today announced the names of 36 barristers who have been appointed as Senior Counsel (SC). The successful applicants for 2003, in order of...
Your editorial ‘The repentance of barristers’ (Herald, 23 September) is a tired rehash of errors. The legal profession is not self-regulated. It is a system of co-regulation involving checks and balances between the Legal Services...
Media Release 17 March 2003 The New South Wales Bar Association is opposed to some of the recently announced policies of the NSW Liberal/National Coalition regarding prosecutions for child sexual assault. The Coalition's proposals undermine principles which are...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Bret Walker SC, has repeated his call for the Australian Government to reveal any legal advice it may have that a pre-emptive strike against Iraq without...
Media Release The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Bret Walker SC, has called upon the Australian Government to reveal any legal advice it may have that a pre-emptive strike against Iraq can be...
The Bar Council yesterday elected the Bar Association’s office holders for the year 2003. They are: President Bret Walker SC Senior Vice President Ian Harrison SC Junior Vice President Michael Slattery QC Treasurer Tom Bathurst QC Secretary Chrissa Loukas These office bearers comprise the Executive of the...
Media release 1 October 2002 The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Bret Walker SC, today announced the names of 28 barristers who have been appointed as Senior Counsel (SC). The successful applicants for 2002, in...
The announced retirements of Justice Mary Gaudron from the High Court of Australia, and of Chief Justice Alistair Nicholson from the Family Court of Australia, and the important appointments to be made as a result,...
Letter to the Editor, 8 May 2002 Benjamin Broso in his letter published 4-5 May states that ‘advocates’ immunity from suit’ is only afforded to barristers. This is wrong. The centuries old ‘advocates’ immunity’ applies...
Paul Sheehan’s article on the legal profession in today’s Herald (6 May) is wrong. The legal profession is not largely self-regulated. It is arguably the most closely, externally, regulated of all professions. There is...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Bret Walker S.C., has cautioned the State’s politicians about the pitfalls of mandatory life sentences for criminals who murder police officers. The Bar Association deplores all attacks...
Australian Financial Review, 15 March 2002, p.75 Senator Heffernan has stood aside as Cabinet Secretary pending an investigation, and the Prime Minister declares that this is the right thing to have done. The demerits of Senator...
An article by Bret Walker S.C., President of the New South Wales Bar Association, published in the Australian Financial Review, 8 March 2002, p.53. Joe Hockey, the Minister for Small Business, has a cock-eyed view of...
The NSW Bar Association has expressed grave concern at proposals announced today by the Leader of the State Opposition suggesting that the Director of Public Prosecutions should be subject to some form of accountability to...
The loss of civil liberties through new anti-terrorism laws in the US and Britain is something not to be repeated here, writes Bret Walker. WAR threatens civil liberties as much at home as in the...
In June of this year, the Special Minister of State, The Hon. John Della Bosca MLC, responded to the WorkCover deficit by severely restricting the right of injured workers to have their cases heard by...
Your readers, like all decent Australian taxpayers, are entitled to regard the conduct of delinquent barrister tax (non) payers as disgraceful. The Bar Association shares that view, and the Bar Council presided over by...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Mr Bret Walker S.C. today suggested that the New South Wales Government modify its proposal to backdate the commencement of Workers Compensation legislative changes, about to...
Bar Council today elected the Bar Association's office holders for the year 2002. They are: President Bret Walker SC Senior Vice President Ian Harrison SC Junior Vice President Michael Slattery QC Treasurer ...
The New South Wales Bar Association last night cancelled eight barristers' practising certificates, exercising its powers under Part 3 Division 1AA of the Legal Profession Act 1987. All the cancellations were consequent upon the barristers...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., today announced the names of 20 barristers who have been appointed as Senior Counsel (S.C.) The successful applicants for 2001, in order of their...
The Australian's lead article on prejudicial publicity ('Arrogance breeds contempt laws', 07/09/01) is a good example of why jurors are often sceptical of media coverage of criminal trials. It is true that a report by...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., has called upon the State Government and the Opposition to put an end to the bidding war on law and order policies and to show...
Miranda Devine painted a stark picture in last week's Sun Herald. According to Ms Devine, militant consumers and predatory lawyers are forcing virtuous obstetricians like 'Dr A' from their trade. But her shallow article...
The Bar Association welcomes the recommendations contained in the latest New South Wales Law Reform Commission report, Complaints against lawyers. 'These measures will make the complaints and hearing process more efficient and less subject to...
Although the Government's workers' compensation amendments have passed through the Legislative Council, The Daily Telegraph's guide to WorkCover (July 3) has jumped the gun. The rights and entitlements of injured workers are still far from...
The editorial headed 'WorkCover protests misguided' (Daily Telegraph, 22 June) repeats the Government's inaccurate and misleading statistics about workers compensation legal costs. The editorial claimed that 'lawyers receive $420 million, significantly more than the $410 million...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., has criticised the New South Wales Government for using misleading statistics about workers' compensation legal costs. 'The Government continues to justify ill-conceived changes to...
Workers compensation legislation that the Government plans to introduce in Parliament today will seriously erode the rights of injured workers and employers to a fair and just determination of their benefits. 'This legislation affords no protection...
The Bar Association today called on Special Minister of State, The Hon. John Della Bosca MLC to release amendments to the Workers Compensation Amendment Bill 2000 before it was rushed through Parliament next week. Bar...
The NSW Bar Association today demanded to be consulted on the NSW Government's eleventh hour announcement on its so-called agreement on workers compensation. 'The NSW Bar President, Ms Ruth McColl S.C., said the news release...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., has urged the Federal and State Governments to stop bickering and to work co-operatively to ensure economic relief is provided to members of...
Today's decision by a Supreme Court jury to award a retired bar attendant $306,048 in damages for cancer caused by passive smoking gives an insight into why the State Government's changes to workers compensation are...
In his Hearsay article (6 April) on HIH, Chris Merritt takes the Bar Association's submission on the risks attaching to professional indemnity insurers out of context. The Association's submissions were made in 1998 in response to...
It is surprising that the Herald (Editorial 19 April 2001) has been seduced so easily by by Mr. Della Bosca's figures in relation to weekly benefits paid to workers compared with payments made to lawyers. The...
The Bar Association President, Ruth McColl S.C., today revealed that Mr Della Bosca keeps changing the figures on workers compensation benefits. 'In what appear to be knee-jerk responses to bad publicity, Mr Della Bosca is using...
New South Wales Bar Association President, Ruth McColl S.C., today released a fact sheet on proposals to change workers compensation legislation. Workers compensation laws are some of the most complicated on our statute books. As...
Who is kidding whom about workers comp? The Minister for Industrial Relations, The Hon. John Della Bosca MLC, promises us a brave new world where workers compensation benefits will be delivered in a fairer and...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., has described the Carr Government's radical changes to workers compensation as 'ill considered' and accused the Government of ignoring the recommendations made by...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., will officially launch at tonight's Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team dinner a strategy to assist Indigenous lawyers to practice as barristers. 'Currently, there...
Albert Willis should stay in touch (Letters March 8). I have consistently condemned barristers who evade tax. I have made this clear both before the recent controversy emerged and repeated that stance in the public statements...
The article by Piers Akerman ('Pleading innocent in a culture of guilt', 6/03/2001) bore no resemblance to the facts. The Bar has been appalled by the revelations of barristers avoiding tax obligations by bankruptcy actions, as...
The New South Wales Bar Association welcomes the new legislation designed to crack down on tax evasion by members of the legal profession, announced by the NSW Attorney General yesterday, The Hon. Bob Debus MP. These...
In her critique of our system of justice ('Truth and justice turned on their head', 28/02/2001), Miranda Devine speculates that there 'can't be anything wrong' with barristers using bankruptcy to evade tax, because the 'Bar...
Barristers are not afraid to crack down on members of the profession who defy the tax laws, writes Ruth McColl. Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 2 March 2001, p.12 Make no bones about it, the NSW Bar deplores...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C. today announced the formation of a committee with an urgent timetable to investigate allegations, made by Paul Barry in the Sydney Morning Herald,...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., today condemned barristers who evade tax. 'The Bar Association deplores persons who deliberately flout and avoid their legal and financial obligations. It strikes...
The NSW Bar Council today elected the Association’s office holders for the year 2001. They are: President: Ruth McColl S.C Senior Vice President Bret Walker S.C. Junior Vice President Ian Harrison S.C. Secretary ...
Comments in the article by Mr Ysaiah Ross ('Defence counsel as a protector of the public', AFR Legal Affairs, 27 October) do not accurately state the essence of the New South Wales Bar Association's case...
Contrary to the comment in your article, 'Bar List Short on Women' (Daily Telegraph, 27 October 2000), there is no irony whatsoever in the fact that the latest list of Senior Counsel appointees does not...
26 October 2000 The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., today announced the names of 19 barristers who have been appointed Senior Counsel (S.C.) The successful applicants for 2000, in order of...
A Cuban-born diver last night lost the right to represent his adopted homeland, Canada, in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Arturo Miranda took his case to the Court for Arbitration in Sport with help from the...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., has called upon politicians not to interfere with the independent judicial process. Ms McColl was critical of the Opposition seeking to debate in...
The State OppositionÃs proposed legislation to make the Director of Public Prosecutions answerable to a parliamentary committee (Daily Telegraph, August 29) demonstrates ignorance of the role and functions of the office. The Opposition seems to have...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., said she respects the decision by the Hon. Jeff Shaw QC MLC to resign as Attorney General and return to practise at the...
Adherence to the principle that jurors' decisions in criminal trials should be unanimous is at the heart of the administration of criminal justice. The jury is representative of the community at large. It is only...
Raymond McCabe and Edward Cowcher are wrong when they claim that Judges, magistrates and lawyers across Australia are recent entrants to the debate on mandatory sentencing. (Letters, SMH, 21/3/2000) They have, in fact, consistently expressed...
Letter to the Editor The Australian, 17 March 2000, p.14 Contrary to the assertion by Mr Little, the NSW Bar Association is definitely not urging anybody to undertake actions that would subvert the rule of law. Judicial...
Mandatory Sentencing The Australian, Tuesday 14 March 2000 by Ruth McColl S.C. The issue of mandatory sentencing has received intense political and media scrutiny in the past few weeks. There were calls for the Federal Government to intervene...
Shane Stoneís article ëVictims, not offenders, deserve a breakí(Opinion, 17/2 ) contains a number of fallacies that cannot go unchallenged. As a politician, and principal architect of the legislation, it is only natural that Mr Stone...
In his article 'Brilliant QCÌs Appointment is an insult to legal system' (AFR February 11) Chris Merritt launched a wholly misconceived attack upon the appointment of Dyson Heydon QC to the NSW Court of Appeal. Mr....
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., congratulates Diana Bryant QC for being selected as Australia’s first Chief Federal Magistrate. Ms Bryant QC is eminently suited to the position. She has...
Mr. Baz (Letters, December 13) suggests that justice has not been served by Justice Hely sitting on the case involving Souths, he having acted for News Limited in 1995. The facts are that Justice Hely informed...
The NSW Bar Council today elected the Association’s office holders for the year 2000. They are: President Ruth McColl S.C. Senior Vice...
The Bar Association applauds the Attorney-General’s initiative in raising the vital question: should NSW have a Bill of Rights? The President of the Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, hopes the inquiry announced by Mr Shaw will...
The Bar Association is strongly opposed to the recent increases in court fees introduced by the New South Wales government. On 28 October 1999 the NSW Attorney General announced that fees in all NSW Courts would...
The NSW Bar Association supports changes in the approach to illicit drugs, with a reduced emphasis on law enforcement and greater focus on health and social issues. The Association welcomes the successful passage of the...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, today announced the names of 23 barristers who have been appointed Senior Counsel (S.C.). The successful applicants for 1999 are: William Kearns Antony Martin Caroline Needham Julian...
NSW Motor accidents compensation legislation 21 June 1999 To the Honourable Members of the Legislative Council Motor Accidents Compensation Bill 1999 The NSW Bar Association is firmly of the view that the Motor Accidents Compensation Bill 1999 is so...
The NSW Government has said a lot about cutting $100 off the price of Green Slips, but nothing about what the reduction will cost the community. Why not? There are more than 6 million people in...
Insults form Mike Carlton are of no consequence, except perhaps to raise his blood pressure. But his punctured self-esteem has caused him to overlook the whole Judge Kirkham argument, so may I briefly reinstate it? First, Judge Kirkham...
It is hazardous to criticise Mike Carlton. He will always have the last say, and all the space he needs to say it (Herald, April 24). He is much more ready to dish out than to receive. My...
Mike Carlton’s savage attack on Judge Kirkham and the barristers in the Camilleri trial was full of sound and fury, while signifying little that was fair, or even sensible (Herald, 17 April 1999). To assert that...
Friday, 16 April 1999 The Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, the Hon Justice Alastair Nicholson AO RFD, will comment upon the Federal Government’s discussion paper – Property and Family Law: Options for Change...
The truly extraordinary thing about the Wallis Lake judgement is that P.P McGuinness thinks that to sue government for damages for negligence is an extraordinary notion (SMH 11/3/99) With all due humility, may I remind Mr McGuinness...
The Law Society of NSW and the NSW Bar Association have called for the Government and the Opposition to immediately release all their law and justice policies. Representing more than 16,000 lawyers, the two organisations said...
Dear Sir, I know little of bird physiology, but I imagine that sodomising a parrot would be attended by practical difficulties (Evan Whitton 'Hear the one about the rule of law'?, Opinion 8 January 1999). Practical...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, has questioned the timing of the Government’s release of a new policy about defence disclosure in criminal trials. "It is a great pity that such a...
The President of the Australian Bar Association, Robert Gotterson QC, today expressed concern at the proliferation of acting judges in NSW. "Traditionally acting judges have only been used to fill a temporary space created when a...
The following members of the NSW Bar Council were elected to the Executive at a Council meeting today: Mr Ian Barker QC was re-elected President. Ms Ruth McColl S.C. was re-elected Senior Vice President. Mr Bret Walker...
The Bar Association protests against the reopening of Parramatta Jail. When it was closed more than a year ago, it was according to the present Government, "no longer fit for modern rehabilitation". Nothing has changed. The...
As he is now merely an apologist for the Attorney-General, Richard Ackland's writing has become depressingly predictable (The Law Page 13/11/98). May, I spell out why the Bar Association does not like the Government's Sentencing...
Legal professional bodies have united to condemn the radical proposal that will give the NSW Government power to directly refer the matters it wants to the Court of Criminal Appeal to review. The Law Society of...
The Bar Council, the elected governing body of the NSW Bar Association, met last night to discuss the issues surrounding the charging of District Court Judge Philip Bell. Bar Association Senior Vice President Ruth McColl S.C....
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, said today that the Motor Accidents Amendment Bill now before the Legislative Council further curtailed the rights of ordinary people who had suffered the great...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, is pleased to announce the names of 19 barristers who have been appointed Senior Counsel (S.C.). The successful applicants for 1998 are: Peter Hennessy...
The Bar Association of NSW confirmed today that it put forward a number of amendments which the Opposition is seeking to include in the final draft of the Justices Legislation Amendment (Appeals) Bill now before...
The Bar Association of NSW today cautiously welcomed any attempt by the State Government to compel the insurance industry to make "reasonable" offers at an early stage to those in our community who have suffered...
Your attack on Justice Hulme about Johnathon Smallbone’s bail (Daily Telegraph, September 30) was unfair. A magistrate granted bail, with conditions so onerous as to make the order unworkable. All the Judge did was to...
Pro bono myth Letter to The Editor, Sydney Morning Herald Monday 7 September 1998 What a shame that those who stand - and need - to benefit from pro bono work by the legal profession are the real victims...
Some of the comments in Justice Meagher’s lecture were unusually offensive, even for him. (Judge Tells Tales of Justice Who Was Drunk, 27/8 ) He accused the Bar Association of dishonesty because it publishes a Barristers...
Dear Sir, Your editorial (Making judges more efficient, 30 July) about acting judges was without balance, and evaded the real issues. It talked about how successfully acting judges had reduced the District Court's civil list; you omitted...
I would appreciate the space to correct the various misstatements in the article by Evan Whitton, your "legal affairs writer" (Abuse of System Enshrined in Law, Opinion, 23/7). He said a barrister can put to a...
In response to an editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) titled "Farcical Law" (7 July), a couple of days later the following article was submitted to the Opinion Page Editor for consideration. The SMH...
The Acting President of the NSW Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., today challenged the accuracy of the Government’s statements concerning recent legislation affecting third party insurance costs "The Premier has said that his Government has been...
Acting President of the NSW Bar Association, Ruth McColl S.C., tonight warmly welcomed David Bennett QC's appointment as Commonwealth Solicitor-General. "All members of the NSW Bar congratulate him on this highly deserved appointment," said Ms McColl. "Mr...
It has become fashionable for the press to bag the judiciary; if Mr Akerman is to play such games he could at least give the facts some passing attention. In his swipe at Justice Hodgson ("When...
The following statement was released today by the President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Mr Ian Barker QC: "The Premier’s comments about Justice Bruce are outrageous. In anticipation of the Parliamentary Inquiry, Mr Carr...
PURSUANT to its democratic right to publish rubbish, The Australian continues to give space to Evan Whitton and his book. Regarding the last publication (The Truth Is Out There? Pull the Other One, Opinion, 21/4),...
Dear Sir, The Premier, Mr Carr, has recently stated that he intends to abolish the defence of diminished responsibility , or to make substantial changes to it. Regrettably this appears to be a knee-jerk reaction to a...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, released the following statement: "The NSW Bar Association is delighted that one of its members, The Hon Murray Gleeson AC, will be appointed Chief Justice of...
Dear Sir Richard Ackland's piece on legal aid ("Dragging the law out of its bottomless pit", 20 March) avoids the real issue. Legal aid exists for the needy public, not for lawyers. The losers in the...
It needs to be made perfectly clear to everyone. Our justice system does not exist because of a vast conspiracy between lawyers and judges, starting in the 13th century, to suppress the truth. To persist...
The Saturday Australian magazine (21 March) gave great prominence to Evan Whitton's latest offering, about the legal system's "magic tricks". It is sad, but understandable, that he could not find a publisher. His last book...
The following statement was released today by the President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr Ian Barker QC: "The Premier, Mr Carr, has been reported as saying he would order the Director of Public Prosecutions,...
The NSW Bar Council today elected the Association's office holders for 1998. They are: President: Ian Barker QC Senior Vice President: Ruth McColl S.C. Junior Vice President: Bret Walker S.C. Treasurer: Michael Adams QC Secretary: Anna Katzmann S.C. These...
The process of appointing Senior Counsel (S.C.) or silk has been reported as being a "closed shop". Even an "illegal cartel. Both claims are wrong and readers are entitled to understand fully the process of...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Ian Barker QC, said today that only three professional disciplinary matters regarding the conduct of its 1900 members went to the Legal Services Tribunal in 1996-97. Speaking in...
In his attack on Kirby J, Pierpont (Fin Review 9/1/98) pursues his dual vocation of entertainer and educator. But he loses sight of the wood by picking on the trees. Reasoned criticism of the High Court...
Ian Barker QC, President, NSW Bar Association I found it hard to take seriously Mr Fischer's comments about the appointment of "capital 'C' conservatives" to the High Court; I hope they were no more than...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, David Bennett QC, has announced the names of barristers who have been appointed Senior Counsel (S.C.). "Each of these barristers has continuously displayed to a high degree the necessary...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, announced today that Mr Murugan Thangaraj was the inaugural winner of "The New South Wales Bar Association President's Legal Assistance Award". "The award is given...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, today announced the appointment of Philip Selth as Executive Director, effective 10 November. "I am very pleased to announce Mr Selth's appointment. He brings...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, David Bennett QC, today defended the appointment by Chief Justice Gleeson of Justice Terence Cole to the inquiry investigating comments made by Mrs Franca Arena. "Justice Cole is a...
Your editorial on 13 September 1997 suggesting that the "proper response" to Judge Kirkham's decision to abort a trial is "implicit in Mr Whelan's determination to refer the matter to the Judicial Commission" demonstrates a...
St James Ethics Centre: Annual Lawyers Lecture Your story "Not the truth, and anything but the truth" (BRW, pg 46, September 1997) fails to consider the possibility that Nicholas Cowdery QC may be wrong. Nor...
The problem with your editorial "The Greed of Lawyers" (30/8/97) is that you do not leave room for the possibility that Nicholas Cowdery QC may be wrong. Nor do you give due credit to...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett, QC today paid tribute to the late Sir Garfield Barwick: "Today we pay tribute to Sir Garfield Barwick, who was, with little doubt, the greatest...
Re: Editorial "Matters of Judgment", Friday 4 July 1997 Our concerns about the effect of the Government's recent changes to the District Court's jurisdiction and reappointing Acting Judges it to is not "scaremongering", nor is our...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, David Bennett QC, has called on the Prime Minister and Cabinet to retain the powers of the current Administrative Review Tribunal and review bodies. "We are very concerned about...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, David Bennett QC said today that the Attorney General's decision to reappoint a total of 32 Acting Judges to the District Court of NSW is continuing a dangerous...
The Acting President of the NSW Bar Association, Rick Burbidge QC, today called on the Upper House of the NSW Parliament to delay passage of the Government's District Court Amendment Bill until its full ramifications...
The New South Wales Bar Association supports, in general terms, the current proposals for the decriminalisation of drug use as recommended by Commissioner Wood and Police Commissioner Ryan, amongst others. There are three main aims to...
The President of the NSW Bar Association, David Bennett QC, today called on the Federal and State Governments to provide the necessary and proper funding for legal aid. Speaking in response to the NSW Attorney-General's announcement...
The repeated use of the word "cartel" to describe the judiciary in your Editorial (12 May) demonstrates the extreme position from which the writer begins. It should be acknowledged that both the courts and the legal...
The following comment on the amendment moved by Andrew Tink MP to the Sentencing Legislation Further Amendment Bill 1997 was issued today by David Bennett QC, President, NSW Bar Association. "An amendment is presently before Parliament...
NSW Barrister Roger de Robillard, who was convicted of contempt of court and sentenced to 2 months jail in Vanuatu, arrives in Sydney today on QF 276 at 3.15pm. His barristers (Michael Adams QC and Nicole...
On 17 April 1997, His Excellency the President of Vanuatu, in exercise of the power vested in him by Article 38 of the Constitution, reduced the sentence of Roger de Robillard by a period of...
The President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, called on the Attorney-General of Vanuatu to seek the Court's suspension of the prison sentence handed down to Australian barrister Roger de...
RE: "Bizarre theatre of the absurd", Friday 4 April, 1997 In your article, "Bizarre theatre of the absurd" (page 10, 4 April) you mislead your readers. The fact that Counsel for the NSW Police Service,...
Thursday 19 September 1996 Federal Attorney General, Daryl Williams AM QC and the Shadow Treasurer, Gareth Evans QC, will join leading barristers Sir Maurice Byers OBE QC and David Jackson QC, in a debate on one...
Tuesday 10 September 1996 The Crimes Act currently prevents judges from admitting the sexual history of a complainant into evidence, unless it falls within one of six specific exceptions (Crimes Act s. 409B). The President of the...
Monday 8 July 1996 The President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, today added his voice to warnings about the consequences of the Federal Government's proposed changes to legal aid funding. "The NSW Legal...
25 June 1996 The President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, said that if the Government's amendments to the "Committals" Bill go ahead, committal hearings will be turned into a rubber-stamping formality by...
Wednesday 17 April 1996 Following the sensational reporting on the subject of paedophilia and Phillip Bell, the President of the NSW Bar Association, Mr David Bennett QC, has urged the Police Royal Commission to be cautious...
Tuesday 26 March 1996 Today, the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner released its annual report. The report highlighted that: There were 2801 complaints received by the Commissioner about the legal profession (barristers, solicitors, licensed conveyancers and others)...
The following announcement has been posted on behalf of the chief justice of New South Wales, the Hon J J Spiegelman AC. On 1 March 2007 the Sydney Morning Herald published a front page story: 'Revealed;...