Current affairs, news, Practice Directions, CPD Seminars, conferences and more …
Appointments
On 26 September 2007, His Honour Judge Koppenol was sworn in as a Judge of the District Courts of Queensland during a ceremony in the District Court at Ipswich.
On 27 September 2007, John Logan RFD SC was appointed a Judge of Federal Court of Australia. His Honour’s swearing-in ceremony was held in the Commonwealth Law Courts on 5 October 2007.
On 11 october 2007, Peter Murphy SC was appointed a Judge of the Family Court of Australia and the swearing-in ceremony took place in the Commonwealth Law Courts on that day.
Yesterday, the Honourable Justice McMeekin was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
The Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon. Philip Ruddock MP has announced the appointment of Magistrate Margaret Cassidy to the Federal Magistrates Court as of 5 November 2007.
Notification re Assessment of Costs
To download a copy of the Notification regarding Assessment of Costs from the Hon. Paul de Jersey, Chief Justice, CLICK HERE.
Launch of the TASC Community Access Point
His Honour Judge Irwin, Chief Magistrate launched The Advocacy and Support Centre’s Community Access Point at the Toowoomba Magistrates Court on 28 September 2007. To download copy of his Honour’s address, CLICK HERE.
Celebration of the Maryborough Courthouse 130th Anniversary
The 130th Anniversary of the Maryborough Courthouse was celebrated on 21 September 2007. To download a copy the speech delivered by his Honour Judge Irwin, Chief Magistrate at the Maryborough Courthouse upon that occasion, CLICK HERE.
STEP Australia – The Future of Trusts – 17 October 2007
Dr Donovan Waters QC FRSC will deliver the STEP Australia lecture, The Future of Trusts, which will take place in the Banco Court, Law Courts Complex, Brisbane on 17 October 2007. For more information and a registration form, CLICK HERE.
Bench and Bar Golf Day – 28 October 2007
The Hon. Paul de Jersey, Chief Justice will present the E.J.D. Stanley Perpetual Trophy at the Bench and Bar Golf Day which will take place at the Royal Queensland Golf Club, Brisbane on 28 October 2007. The J.A. Griffin QC Perpetual Trophy will be presented by Mrs de Jersey and the President. For more information and a registration form, CLICK HERE.
The W.A. Lee Equity Lecture 2007 – Unconscionability in Estoppel by Representation – 8 November 2007
The Hon. Justice Handley is the speaker at the W.A. Lee Equity Lecture – Unconscionability in Estoppel by Representation which will take place in the Banco Court, Law Courts Complex, Brisbane on 8 November 2007. For more information and to RSVP, email g.fellows@qut.edu.au or call (07) 3138 5153.
QLS – Beach Safety and the Law National Summit – 8-9 November 2007
The inaugural Queensland Law Society’s Beach Safety and the Law National Summit will take place at the Gold Coast on 8 and 9 November 2007. The summit will seek to clarify the existing law as it applies to topics of public liability, tourism, the roles and responsibilities of local government councils and other statutory authorities, developers, volunteer lifesavers and salaried lifeguards. For more information and a registration form, CLICK HERE.
Arts Law Centre of Queensland Inc. – CPD Seminar – New Intellectual Property Jurisdiction: Federal Magistrates Court – 14 November 2007
Federal Magistrate, Michael Burnett will deliver the Arts Law Centre of Queensland’s CPD Seminar – New Intellectual Property Jurisdiction: Federal Magistrates Court which will take place at the Queensland Law Society Auditorium, Brisbane on 14 November 2007. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Supreme Court Notification – Summer 2007/2008 Arrangements in Applications and Crime
To download a copy of the Supreme Court Notification regarding the Summer 2007/2008 Arrangements in Applications and Crime, CLICK HERE.
Australian Bar Association – Residential Advocacy Course – 21-25 January 2008
Registrations are now open for the Australian Bar Association’s Residential Advocacy Course which will be held at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Sydney on 21 to 25 January 2008. This, the second course, is more advanced than the inaugural course which was held in January 2007 and places are limited to people with seniority of at least two years at the private bar. For more information, CLICK HERE.
BAQ Annual Conference – 15-17 February 2008
The Bar Association of Queensland’s Annual Conference will take place at the Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast on 15 to 17 February 2008. Members will earn 10 CPD points in all mandatory strands for attending the conference.
A Difficult Issue …
Readers may enjoy the following exchange which took place in the Victorian Court of Appeal during the hearing of Anderson v National Australia Bank [2007] VSCA 172 and has been taken from the trial transcript.
HIS HONOUR: What’s the relevance of that?
COUNSEL: I am getting to the issue of the — clearly, Your Honour, the difficult issue of sex.
HIS HONOUR: Say the answer is yes. Where do you go? Say the answer is no. Where do you go? What does it matter? I rule it irrelevant. Don’t answer it Mr Beecham.
COUNSEL: Well, what I suggest to you is that you married at a very young age?
HIS HONOUR: Well that’s — it is both irrelevant, and obvious. He was 18.
COUNSEL: In my submission it is not irrelevant. We are getting to the topic of sex, Your Honour, and with great respect, although it is not an easy topic to broach, to deal with – – –
HIS HONOUR: I wouldn’t have thought you would have had any difficulty.
COUNSEL: What does that mean, Your Honour?
HIS HONOUR: Would you — don’t ask me what it mean. Just behave yourself.
COUNSEL: Your Honour.
HIS HONOUR: Don’t you say that to me, either, or I will cease hearing you. You will behalf yourself in this court, and you will behave yourself as counsel should, or you will be dealt with. Now ask a relevant question. I disallow that question.
