The Supreme Court of Victoria’s Court of Appeal will sit in Warrnambool this week as part of its regional circuit.
Wednesday, 15 May, 2019
The Supreme Court of Victoria’s Court of Appeal will sit in Warrnambool this week as part of its regional circuit.
The Court of Appeal is the State’s highest court and hears appeals from the Supreme Court, County Court and Magistrates’ Court, and from VCAT.
The Court of Appeal has a long history of sitting in regional centres. This will be the sixth time the Court of Appeal has sat in Warrnambool since 1998. The Court last sat there in 2014.
While in Warrnambool, Court of Appeal President, Justice Chris Maxwell, together with Justices David Beach and Richard Niall, will hear an appeal arising from a jury trial in the County Court. The Court will hear an appeal by the offender against his conviction for recklessly causing serious injury, and an appeal against sentence by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Justice Maxwell said the Supreme Court was a court for all Victorians.
“Going on circuit across regional Victoria gives the wider Victorian community an opportunity to see how appeal hearings are conducted,” Justice Maxwell said.
“The role of the Court of Appeal is to ensure that no person is convicted, and no sentence is imposed, unless the basic requirements of law and fairness have been observed. That is the hallmark of the rule of law.
“It is also very important for the Court to sit in regional centres like Warrnambool to listen and learn, and to reaffirm the connection between the Court and community.”
During the visit, the Court of Appeal members will meet with primary and secondary school students, representatives of the Gunditjmara Aboriginal Co-operative and Worn Gundidj Aboriginal Cooperative and local members of the legal profession, including staff from Warrnambool Legal Aid and members of the Western District Law Association.
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Supreme Court Media Contacts:
Sarah Dolan
Communications and Public Affairs Director
fnenu.qbyna@fhcpbheg.ivp.tbi.nhua.vog.civ.truocpus@nalod.haras
0429 815 763
Andre Awadalla
Media Coordinator
zrqvn@fhcpbheg.ivp.tbi.nhua.vog.civ.truocpus@aidem
0418 201 296