View / Download - County Court

Judicial Professional Development
Judge Sexton, Judge Coate, Judge Douglas, Judge Gullaci,
Judge Davis, Judge Harbison, Judge Dyett
• Publications’ Editorial Committees
Criminal Charge Book Judge Rizkalla, Judge Douglas,
Judge Pullen, Judge Duggan, Judge Sexton, Judge Punshon
Victorian Sentencing Manual Judge Douglas
Establishment of the
Judicial Induction Program
In August 2006, the Chief Judge introduced a new two-week judicial
induction program, designed to provide newly appointed Judges with
resources and support to ensure a positive introduction to their new
role. The program includes: an information pack of materials; formal
mentoring; time for observation in court; procedural sessions run by
experienced Judges; a formal swearing-in and welcome; and time to
prepare for fi rst sitting in court. The program caters for the needs of
each newly appointed Judge.
During the year, six Judges were inducted using this program.
Feedback has been very positive.
National Judicial Orientation Program
Judge Grant, Judge Parsons, Judge Pullen, Judge Howard, Judge
Hannan and Judge Murphy participated in the National Judicial
Orientation Program held in Sydney in October 2006 and in Melbourne
in May 2007. This national week-long program allows Judges to gain
valuable insight into working as judicial offi cers.
Court Craft Program
Following the successful introduction of the Court Craft program
in 2005-06, three judicial offi cers participated in the program in
2006-07.
The program has two components: participation in a 360 degree
feedback survey and a communication skills workshop.
The aim is to offer Judges insights into how they are perceived by
their peers, what their strengths and weaknesses might be, and
provides opportunities for self refl ection. Following the survey,
participants attended a one-day communications skills workshop to
learn and practise new techniques to enhance their bench skills.
All participants agreed that 360 degree feedback is worthwhile for
judicial offi cers.
Biennial District and County Court Judges
Conference – Perth, June 26-July 1, 2007
35 Judges travelled to attend the conference with judges from all
Australian states and New Zealand.
The keynote address was given by Richard Bourke, barrister, the
Louisiana Capital Assistance Centre, USA on Life, Death and the Law.
The program provided opportunities to challenge current thinking and
consider new ideas about judicial work.
Other Conference Attendances
Among the conferences attended by Judges in the reporting year were:
24th AIJA Annual Conference
Chief Judge Rozenes, Judge Curtain, Judge Wodak and Judge
Anderson attended this conference held in Adelaide from 15 to
17 September 2006. The focus of the conference was ‘Affordable
Justice’. Sessions included measuring Court performance from a
quality perspective; causes of delay in the criminal justice system;
alternatives to adversarial hearings and sentence indications; and
funding civil litigation.
Judicial Conference of Australia Colloquium
This annual colloquium was held in Canberra from 6 to 8 October,
2006. Topics considered included Judicial Ethics in the 21st Century;
Court Governance and Judicial Independence; Suppression Orders;
and Judicial Appointments. The Court was represented by the Chief
Judge and Judge Curtain.
Judges’ Contribution to Professional
Development within the legal profession
The Chief Judge spoke with each new group of Bar Readers during
their professional program to welcome them as barristers who
will shortly be appearing in court and to encourage them in their
professional development. Judges also presided over moots
conducted as part of the Bar Readers course.
Several Judges participate each year in ‘Life in the Law’, a program
sponsored by the Law Institute of Victoria which provides young legal
practitioners the opportunity to engage with senior and successful
members of the profession.
Judicial Offi cers Information Network web site.
www.countycourt.vic.gov.au 15