10-12 October 2014, Sunshine Coast

Program

Friday 10 October

The media, politicians & the courts

The media in the courtroom is an increasingly important issue for judges and magistrates, as are politicians’ comments on sentencing. In this session judges, journalists and politicians will come together to discuss matters of mutual interest from their various perspectives.

The Hon Peter Collins, QC
The Hon Greg Smith, SC
The Hon Robert McClelland
The Hon Justice Betty King, Supreme Court of Victoria
The Hon Justice Lucy McCallum, Supreme Court of NSW
The Hon Justice Roslyn Atkinson, Supreme Court of Queensland
The Hon Justice Simon Moore, High Court of New Zealand The New Zealand Perspective and Experience (pdf) (757KB)
David Marr, The Guardian Australia
Matt Wordsworth, ABC 7:30 Queensland
Chair: The Hon Justice Terry Sheahan, AO

Welcome Reception: Sheraton Hotel, Noosa

Saturday 11 October

Keynote Address

The Hon Justice Patrick Keane, High Court of Australia The Idea of the Professional Judge: The Challenges of Communication (pdf) (115KB)

Mental health issues in the courts

How do courts deal with persons with impaired capacity? How can the criminal justice system deal fairly and humanely with those whose mental illness reduces or negates their criminal responsibility? How do judges trying or managing civil cases deal with those who lack capacity, whether through mental illness or other impairment, to give instructions or understand the litigation in which they are participating?

The Hon Justice Catherine Holmes, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court of Queensland, former President, Mental Health Court, Queensland Queensland’s Mental Health Court (pdf) (179KB)
Dr Frank Varghese, forensic psychiatrist, sits on the Mental Health Court
Tony Woodyatt, Director, QPILCH Mental Health Issues in the Courts (pdf) (411KB)
Rebekah Leong, Principal Solicitor, Queensland Advocacy Inc.

Colloquium Dinner: Berardo’s Restaurant

Dinner Speaker: David Marr