Posts Categorized: NSW Courts

Happy 50th Birthday NSWCCA!

Happy birthday written in clouds

The NSW Court of Criminal Appeal (NSWCCA) is the highest criminal court in the state. It is presided over by a panel of three Supreme Court Justices (or five in some cases), and hears appeals from the District and Supreme Courts of NSW. Defendants who have been sentenced can appeal to the NSWCCA if they… Read more »

Separation of Powers: Politician Tells Judge to Resign or Face Removal

Cardboard box

New South Wales District Court judge Clive Jeffreys made headlines recently, criticised for being too lenient. One newspaper’s headline read “Judged Inadequate” while another’s said “Fails of Justice”. Judge Jeffreys, appointed to the bench in 2011, has faced attacks not only from the media, but also from a Senior NSW Government MP. Andrew Constance, the… Read more »

The Dangers of Identification Evidence

Heads of humans

In the 1980s, Jennifer Thompson survived a brutal rape. She had studied her attacker’s face very carefully so she would be able to seek justice if she survived the ordeal. Her honest and detailed eyewitness evidence helped to convict and imprison Ronald Cotton for rape and burglary. Mr Cotton served ten and a half years of… Read more »

Haunted Courts in NSW

Halloween decorations

Going to court is not normally a pleasant event; but for some, it’s downright spooky. In fact, there have been reports of ghost sightings and other paranormal activity in some NSW courts. ‘John’, resident ghost of Casino Local Court Casino, a small town in Northern NSW, is supposedly haunted by resident ghost ‘John.’ The registrar… Read more »

Judicial Discretion in Sentencing

Court gavel

Magistrates and judges have a significant amount of power when presiding over cases. That power ranges from determining what evidence can be used in court, right up to the appropriate penalty that a particular defendant should be given if they plead guilty or are found guilty. Judicial discretion is an important aspect of the sentencing… Read more »

New $100 Million Coroner’s Court for NSW

Sydney Opera House

NSW is set to welcome a brand new Coroner’s Court, with Attorney General Gabrielle Upton announcing a $100 million package earlier this week. The package will see the NSW Coroner’s Court, which has been located in Glebe since 1970, relocated to Lidcombe in Sydney’s west. NSW Health Pathology’s forensic medicine unit will also be shifted… Read more »