NSW Courts Articles

Drink Driving and Drug Driving Laws in NSW: An Inconsistent and Unjust Regime

“The risk of being involved in a serious car accident increases significantly when the driver’s blood alcohol range substantially exceeds the basic legal limit,” outlines a 2023 NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research report on sentencing high range prescribed concentration of alcohol drivers. “In particular”, underscored the BOCSAR researchers David Saffron and Marilyn Chilvers,… Read more »

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Extended Supervision Orders Can Only Be Imposed If Necessary to Protect the Community

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Ibrahim Ghazzawy was living in Sydney and is said to have adopted the Islamic State political outlook by the age of 18, at which point, in early 2014, he had his passport seized by Australian authorities as he planned to fly to Morocco, as it was claimed he sought… Read more »

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NSW Supreme Court Refuses to Invalidate Remaining COVID Fines

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim NSW police issued Angelika Kosciolek with a $3,000 fine at Thegoa Lagoon, which is on the outskirts of the town of Wentworth in far western NSW. The 13 September 2021 penalty notice was issued in relation to the offence described as “Leave Greater Sydney for Prescribed Purposes Without Permit”…. Read more »

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AI Generated and Digitally-Translated Character References Aren’t Acceptable in Court

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim “In my view, it is clearly inappropriate that personal references used in sentencing proceedings are generated by, or with the assistance of” a large language model program, determined ACT Supreme Court Justice David Mossop two weeks ago. And as to why, his Honour explained that “if they are not… Read more »

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NSW Bans the Use of Spit Hoods in Places of Detention

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Two incidents in 2016 that involved spit hoods in certain Australian jurisdictions brought the issue of the controversial use of these antiquated devices to national and global attention. The first was the airing of the Four Corners documentary Australia’s Shame, which featured imagery of a shirtless 17-year-old Aboriginal boy strapped to… Read more »

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Unjust Drug Driving Laws Persist, Eight Years on from Historic Ruling

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Eight years ago last Thursday, in Lismore Local Court, then NSW Magistrate David Heilpern ruled in favour of Joseph Carrall in regard to a drug driving charge, as he found the accused hadn’t consumed cannabis for “at least nine days prior” to testing positive for driving with its presence in… Read more »

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Roger Rogerson: Decorated NSW Police Officer and Cold-Blooded Killer

By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Legendary Sydney whistleblower Sallie-Anne Huckstepp knew her time was up after she’d accussed NSW police detective sergeant Roger Rogerson of killing her boyfriend, heroin dealer Warren Lanfranchi, during a 1981 interview with 60 Minutes. Such was the reputation of the notorious Sydney police officer, who died on 21 January, after suffering… Read more »

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