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Federal Court Chief Justice flags possible constraints on pleadings 
Federal Court Chief Justice Debra Mortimer has flagged possible limitations on cashed-up parties in commercial disputes running overly complex cases that tie the court’s resources down. 
Victoria Supreme Court’s new top judge praised for warmth, good humour
Chief Justice Richard Niall was welcomed as the new top judge on the Victoria Supreme Court on Tuesday, surrounded by peers who praised his legal skills, warmth and good humour. 
Appeals court won’t revive defamation claims against AFP commander
A Melbourne couple whose defamation claims against an AFP commander were thrown out by a jury has had their appeal rejected.
GCOs can’t travel to NSW, appeals court says in Arrium class action
KPMG has lost the latest round in its fight to transfer a class action over the collapse of steel giant Arrium from Victoria to NSW, with an appeals court finding that a group costs order made in the case could not travel across the border.
Arrium class action’s potential loss of contingency fee irrelevant to transfer fight, KPMG says
The possibility that a NSW judge will revoke a contingency fee order made in a class action over Arrium's collapse is irrelevant to whether the proceedings should be transferred from Victoria to the appropriate forum, Arrium's auditor KPMG has told a court.
Protester’s challenge to COVID-19 lockdown fails on appeal
An anti-lockdown protester has lost her appeal of a decision dismissing her legal challenge to Victoria’s stay-at-home orders, with an appeals court finding the reduction in risk to public health “outweighed” impacts on freedom of speech.
Amid push for reforms, judges refuse to recuse themselves time and again
Requests by litigants for judges to disqualify themselves from presiding over cases were largely denied last year, in a raft of decisions containing lessons for litigants weighing up their own recusal bids in 2023.
Judge holidaying with Maddocks CEO won’t recuse himself from law firm client’s case
A judge has rejected a bid for his recusal from a contractual dispute in which Maddocks is acting, despite his personal friendship and holiday plans with the law firm's CEO. 
High Court won’t hear case by Victorian anti-lockdown protestor
An anti-lockdown protestor's application to have the High Court hear a challenge to the dismissal of her lawsuit over Victoria's stay-at-home orders has been rejected, with the justices saying the case should be heard by the state's Court of Appeal.
Court throws out protester’s challenge to Victoria’s COVID-19 lockdown orders
A judge has thrown out a protester's lawsuit challenging Victoria's stay-at-home orders during the state's extended lockdown last year, saying the relevant provisions in the government's emergency legislation were valid "in all their potential operations".