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Justinian

Gazette of Law &am; Journalism

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Tulkinghorn    May 16, 2008  
Even lawyers have to eat ... Not necessarily, replied the Cardinal

Canadian jurist urges judges to take control of cases away from lawyers … Maximising business in the criminal courts begs the question, “where do we draw the line on freeing people we know to be guilty”? ... more

Sir Terence O'Rort    May 16, 2008   thumbnail
It's nutty up north

A stressed Gladstone solicitor is done for professional misconduct, but thrown a merciful lifeline of rehabilitation by Daphnis and the kindly souls at the Bureau de Spank. Sir Terence O’Rort reports ... more

Victoria Mole - Melbourne blogger    May 16, 2008  
Les Petits Trésors de La Firme

It’s not all misery and despair at Vicki Mole’s firm. There are a few things that make it worthwhile … like the biscuits ... more

Wendler on Wine    May 14, 2008  
In vino veritas

Florida billionaire Bill Koch is convinced that rare and fine wine dealer Hardy Rodenstock is a con man. He’s chasing Rodenstock through the US federal courts and in the process some big reputations could end up in the spittoon. Sydney barrister G.D. Wendler starts his regular wine column for Justinian ... more

Theodora    May 13, 2008  
Goings on ...

Lavatory crisis at Solicitor General’s drinks in Hobart … What is a “Marsden”? ... Newspaper wastes acres of space on Justice Paul Guest … Patrick Power back in court … Grovel to barrister but not to journalist … (Justice) Emilios Kyrou calls the shots on sex with clients ... more

Evan Whitton    May 13, 2008  
Book review: Why Sir I. Berlin cuckolded Prof H. Hart

How come Bonaparte and Innocent 111 are rated lower than Blackstone, Madison and Marshall in the ranking of those who most influenced the law? ... Three New York coppers win the trifecta and get off shooting charges … We’re now more than six years into the Afghan loser ... more

Around The Firms    May 13, 2008  
Movement at the station

Corrs Chambers Westgarth gains two new partners this week as it bolsters its corporate and litigation work. Kate Gibbs talks to Byron Koster and Simon Crawford ... more

Elizabeth Street - Sydney blogger    May 13, 2008  
Money, money, money

Unnecessary human misery is caused by the way law firms handle the pay question. When information about salaries starts to leak out, the despair is compounded. Sydney blogger Lizzy Street is on the front line of all the suffering. At least she has worked out that money is the root cause of happiness ... more

Only in America    May 7, 2008  
Disabled law

Brakes applied to booming cottage industry for crippled clients … Claim that AWB’s bribery and money laundering depressed US wheat prices is dismissed … Plaintiff kings Melvyn Weiss and Dickie Scruggs head for the Big House … Pillsbury Flom reports ... more

City Desk    May 6, 2008   thumbnail
Legal Chameleons

Justinian TV takes you to the glittering Sydney opening night of Mark Tedeschi QC’s recent photographic exhibition, Legal Chameleons. Your editor says a few words about the NSW Senior Crown Prosecutor’s work as a shutterbug ... more

Sir Terence O'Rort    May 6, 2008  
Are you still with me Bruce?

Solicitor’s email shows how the new “culture of doing law” has caught on in Brisvegas. Dangerous global life force in hot-headed missives ... more

Around The Firms    May 5, 2008  
Oz lawyers reject BlackBerry ban

Australian lawyers share their thoughts about the BlackBerry. One US firm has banned them from meetings because they were more distracting than helpful. Kate Gibbs found a Sydney law firm partner who thinks they’re ruining people’s (sex) lives ... more

Theodora    May 1, 2008  
Goings on ...

Another round of fun looms in VicSilk fiesta … Court nannies tinkering with transcripts … Bold move to improve clients’ duty of care to solicitors … Row over whether “mates” get justice selection jobs … More CJ rumblings … Former Allens’ chairman takes floral award ... more

Barry Lane    April 29, 2008  
Where's the holy water when you need it?

VicAppeals points to misguided attempt by in-house solicitor to drench expert’s report in privilege. Reminder: privilege should be decided by matters of substance, not form. Barry Lane reports ... more

Bar Talk    April 28, 2008  
Letter from a cheesed off barrister

NSW barristers are as mad as hell and arent going to take it anymore. Missives are pouring into the Bar n Grill over the $700,000 red hole in the accounts and the proposed rules on cross-examinations. Do we submit to bailing out the bar association through increased taxes whilst ignoring the knife in our backs? asks criminal barrister John Doris. Here’s his spray ... more

Roger Fitch Esq    April 25, 2008  
Our Man in Washington

A.J. Liebling was right – the press is asleep on the big stories affecting our freedoms … Bush lawyers looking for soft landings in the corporate sector – although Freddo still can’t find a job … Copyright violations by Pentagon in use of rap music to torture detainees ... more

Leverhulme    April 25, 2008  
London Calling

Moses the Lawgiver. Leverhulme trawls through the highs and lows of Lord Justice Alan Moses’ career. His must-read judgment this month in the Corner House (BAE) case is a powerful reminder of the importance of a gutsy judiciary ... more

Bar Talk    April 25, 2008  
Those rotten bar rules

Experienced Sydney criminal defence barrister Gabriel Wendler scorns the proposed new bar rules that seek to make overbearing cross-examinations a matter of misconduct. In a submission to the Bar Association he puts forward an idea for a different rule ... more

Bar Talk    April 23, 2008  
Street of broken dreams

NSW Bar n’ Grill faces $750,000 loss … Dramatic rise in membership fees … Treasurer resigns amid a flurry of accusations … New bar rules still causing much grief ... more

City Desk    April 22, 2008   thumbnail
Noises from the rump

Nothing too bold from the Governance group at the 2020 Summit. Maybe an abundance of lawyers didn’t help. Gerard Henderson and cohorts turned up and there was more squabbling than big ideas. Still, it’s a nice change to have a government that welcomes ideas. Julian Burnside reports ... more

Barry Lane    April 23, 2008  
Lull in hostilities in Victoria's "serious injury" wars

The High Court in Dwyer v Calco Timbers has put an end to a delightful jig. From here on, barring more meddling by parliament, VicAppeals has to review “serious injury” applications on their merits ... more

Barry Lane    April 18, 2008  
A tale of two inquests

As far as the grieving parents are concerned juries have come up with the wrong version of the “truth” in the Dodi & Di and Kovco inquests … At least Mohamed Al Fayed is a hoot ... more

Sir Terence O'Rort    April 18, 2008  
Chesty's shout

“Let the man have a drink,” cries Justice Chesty Chesterman as he removes the beverage restrictions on a former sex offender being harassed by wowser plods. It takes courage to overturn two of your own previous no drink orders. When Daphis goes to Government House in September, Sir Terence O’Rort’s money is on Chesty for CJ ... more

City Desk    April 17, 2008  
Frank and fearless

The NSW government’s recent mauling of the DPP Nicholas Cowdery was a warning shot to any public servant who sang out of tune. Now the dust has settled and an accommodation has been reached on the appointment of an outside director to the DPP’s office. Alex Mitchell reports ... more

City Desk    April 16, 2008  
Coopergate

Judicial selection nobbled in Tasmanian political payback … The Apple Isle awash in scandal as Attorney General flung from office for lies to parliament … Complicity of the Burst Saveloy … Toxic affairs in two Labor states – Tassie and NSW ... more

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