Judicial Appointments
A Valedictory Ceremony to honour and farewell the Honourable Justice John Dowsett AM of the Federal Court of Australia, was held on Thursday 26 April 2018. A copy of the President’s speech on that occasion may be accessed here .
The following day, his Honour took up appointment as President of the National Native Title Tribunal.
Congratulations also to the following whose appointments were announced since the last edition:
His Honour Judge Michael Williamson QC and his Honour Judge Nathan Jarro to the District Court of Queensland. A copy of the President’s speech on the occasion of the welcoming ceremony on 12 April 2018 may be accessed here .
His Honour Judge John Coker to the District Court of Queensland.
Mr Glen Cash QC, member of Bar Council, as a Judge of the District Court of Queensland, based at Maroochydore.
His Honour Judge Steve Middleton as a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Townsville.
Ms Viviana Keegan and Ms Philippa Beckinsale as Magistrates. A copy of the speech by the Honorary Treasurer, Mr Bradley QC, at the welcome ceremony held on 20 June 2018 may be accessed here
Mrs Tracyann Mossop as a Magistrate based in the Ipswich region before transferring to Dalby.
Mr Terence Browne as a Magistrate in Cairns before being appointed to Townsville.
Queen’s Birthday Honours
Congratulations to the following members of the judiciary who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The Honourable Justice Alfred Martin Daubney AM, for significant service to the law, and to the judiciary, to education, and to the community.
His Honour Judge Stuart Gordon Durward AM, for significant service to the law, and to the judiciary, to the provision of legal services to the Australian Defence Force, to education, and to the community.
His Honour Judge Michael John Shanahan AM, for significant service to the judiciary and to the legal profession as a judge and as an advocate and mentor for juvenile and Indigenous justice issues.
Judge Josephine Willis AM of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, for significant service to the judiciary, and to the law, to Indigenous access to justice initiatives, and to cultural diversity.
Other Appointments
Mr Kenneth Fleming QC was appointed as the first Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) in the Northern Territory.
Retirements
a Valedictory Ceremony to honour and farewell His Honour Judge John Robertson of the District Court of Queensland, will be held on Thursday 17 May 2018
a Valedictory Ceremony to honour and farewell Magistrate Bernadette Callaghan of the Magistrates Court of Queensland, will be held on Friday 22 June 2018.
Vale
The Honourable Kevan John Townsley passed away, at the age of 88 years.
Judge Townsley was first admitted as a Barrister-at-Law on 13 April 1955.
In his distinguished career, he was a former Crown Prosecutor, former Magistrate in Hong Kong and a former Judge of the High Court of Fiji.
Graham Charles Rhead who was called to the Bar on 7 November 1977, passed away on Tuesday 19 June 2018. He was 70 years of age.
Kevin Barry Harcourt Egan RFD who was called to the Bar on 6 June 1983, passed away on Sunday 17 June 2018. He was 71 years of age. Mr Egan was a former DPP of Papua New Guinea before his admission to the Hong Kong Bar in 1980, where he continued to practise until his death.
Leo Joseph Murray CB QC passed away on Thursday 21 June 2018. He was 91 years of age. Mr Murray was called to the Bar on 21 December 1951, and practised until 1989. He was a former Crown Prosecutor and Parliamentary Counsel. He appeared at the trial, and the subsequent appeals up to the High Court for the first criminal prosecution in Australia to convict on circumstantial evidence alone: Plomp v R (1963) 110 CLR 234. The High Court upheld Plomp’s conviction. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel for the State of Queensland on 11 November 1980 and was awarded as a Companion of the Order of the Bath, on 21 June 1986.
Bernard Joseph Catt who was called to the Bar on 22 September 2006 also sadly passed away, aged 46 years.
Paul Marshall Mason, who was called to the Bar on 11 November 1999, passed away on Wednesday 22 August 2018. He was 65 years of age. Mr Mason was a former Commissioner for Children in Tasmania and a well-regarded Family Law Barrister in Brisbane
Queensland Legal Walk and Donation to Lawright
On Tuesday 15 May 2018 hundreds of lawyers, judges and supporters participated in the 2018 Queensland Legal Walk, which recognises the role of the profession in undertaking pro bono work and, most importantly, raises funding for LawRight.
The Honourable Yvette D’Ath MP, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and the Honourable Walter Sofronoff, President of the Court of Appeal, joined participants on a chilly early morning walk from the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law complex, to Parliament House, over the Goodwill Bridge, along the Clem Jones Promenade and back across the Kurilpa Bridge.
A number of members participated in the Legal Walk by walking in the Bar Association team, in their chamber’s teams, or made a donation to LawRight in support of the walk.
Of particular note, North Quarter Lane Chambers raised over $9,000 for LawRight. The Bar Association of Queensland team raised approximately $5,000. In total, the walk has raised almost $100,000 for LawRight.
LawRight (formerly the Queensland Public Interest Law Clearing House “QPILCH”) is an independent, not-for-profit, community-based legal organisation coordinating the provision of pro bono legal services for individuals and community groups in Queensland.
LawRight is a partnership of law firms, barristers, the Community Legal Centres Queensland, the Queensland Law Society, the Queensland Bar Association, Legal Aid Queensland, university law schools, accountancy firms and government and corporate legal units. Its Patron is The Honourable Catherine Holmes, Chief Justice of Queensland.
LawRight operates a civil law referral service and direct legal services for particular disadvantaged client groups, and undertakes law reform, policy work and legal education.
Donations can be made at any time at LawRight’s Donation Page.
Supreme Court Library
Recently the President announced that the Association had concluded an agreement with the Supreme Court Library Queensland (SCLQ) for SCLQ to become the BAQ member library. The President reminded members that the library is a great resource and recommended the Library facilities and services to all members.
BAQ members are able to access a range of free library services online, in person, and by subscription, including:
- legal research – up to 30 minutes of free research assistance a day
- document request service (copies of judgments and other documents not available online) – up to 10 free documents a day
- resource support and guidance – learn how to get the most out of the library’s databases, collections and subscriptions
New barristers (called to the private bar less than 3 years ago) will also have access to the Virtual Legal Library (VLL). VLL provides free online access to over 100 key legal resources in the areas of civil, criminal and family law from leading publishers including LexisNexis, Thomson Reuters and CCH. Available publications include core commentary services, law reports, textbooks and journals.
Brisbane Open House 2018âgo behind-the-scenes of the QEII Courts of Law
Supreme Court Library Queensland and Queensland Courts have partnered to participate in Brisbane Open House, an annual festival that provides Brisbane residents and visitors with the rare opportunity to discover the hidden wealth of architecture, engineering and history in buildings and places around the city.
We are excited to open the doors of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law to the public on 13 October for free behind-the-scenes tours of the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts, and the Supreme Court Library.
Brisbane Open House 2018: Free public tours of the QEII Courts of Law
Saturday 13 October, 10am to 3pm
· Free guided tours running every half hour
· Bookings essential (strictly no walk-ins)âtickets available from Friday 28 September via Brisbane Open House
· Visit sclqld.org.au/bne-open-house for details
Bullying Guidelines
The Bar Council has approved Workplace Bullying Guidelines. These Guidelines focus on bullying towards BAQ staff members and service providers and bullying between barristers and other members of the legal profession.
· Workplace Bullying Policy – Members
· Workplace Bullying Policy – BAQ Worker
· Model Bullying Best Practice Guideline
These Guidelines may also be accessed on BAQ’s website under the Rules & Guidelines tab.
This Edition
As usual, there are many excellent papers and other interesting items for your reading enjoyment.
Happy reading!
Adrian Duffy QC
Editor
