Most Recent
Retiring judge who presided over Ben Roberts-Smith case praised as ‘masterful’
Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko was praised as hard working, a “model of humility and generosity” and “masterful” during a farewell ceremony on Monday attended by a host of legal luminaries.
High Court judge warns against ‘unseemly competition’ between courts
A recently appointed High Court judge has warned against state and federal courts competing to attract cases, expressing concerns the appearance of impartiality could be compromised if courts sought to “drum up business at the expense of defendants”. 
Go-to barrister for ASIC appointed judge on NSW Supreme Court
A leading commercial barrister who represented ASIC in its first fees-for-no-service case stemming from the banking royal commission has been appointed a judge on the NSW Supreme Court.
Three barristers appointed to new Industrial Court in NSW
Two employment silks and a criminal barrister have been selected by the NSW government to serve on the state's restored Industrial Court.
Class action pioneer from Maurice Blackburn will ‘strive for fair’ as new judge
As the head of Maurice Blackburn's class actions group he helped win hundreds of millions of dollars for claimants and shaped the jurisprudence around the practice. As the Victorian Supreme Court's newest judge, Andrew Watson has promised to keep up the fight for fair.
NSW court avoids mention of preferred pronouns in latest practice note
The NSW Supreme Court has issued a practice note on forms of address that fails to invite parties to inform the court of their preferred pronouns, unlike two other state courts, one of which came under fire from 'Harry Potter' author JK Rowling last year.
Victoria Solicitor-General Rowena Orr appointed to appeals court
Senior counsel for the banking royal commission Rowena Orr KC has been appointed as a judge on Victoria's Court of Appeal, with class action silk Alistair Pound appointed to fill her shoes as the state's solicitor-general.
Solicitor accused of raising money for class action he never filed can’t dodge watchdog’s claims
A Sydney solicitor has lost his bid to summarily dismiss the legal watchdog’s case alleging he set up misleading crowdfunding pages seeking funding for class actions over government orders requiring mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as another class action that was never filed.
Judge’s refusal to disqualify himself from MinterEllison costs dispute overturned
A judge’s refusal to recuse himself from hearing a costs dispute between MinterEllison and a former client has been overturned, with a court finding that a number of complaints made about the judge by the client created “a contest” between them.
Ex temp the small stuff and other tips from a High Court judge
How to tell if a judge is buried under a mountain of outstanding judgments? Their mood will say it all. A sure-fire way to prolong that hearing with a vexatious litigant? Engage them in dialogue. Here, Lawyerly shares a High Court judge's war stories and tips for new members of the bench. But what weight to give them? That's a matter for you, he says.