
Bench books and publications news

Sexual Assault Trials Handbook May 2025 update
News
Sentencing Bench Book May 2025 update
News
Equality before the Law Bench Book April 2025 update
News
28 Apr 2025
Equality before the Law Bench Book April 2025 update
Update 26 includes revisions to Sections 1, 2 (First Nations people), 4 (People with a particular religious affiliation), 5 (People with disabilities), 6 (Children and young people), 8 (Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals) and 9 (Gender diverse people and people born with diverse sex characteristics).
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book April 2025 update
News
17 Apr 2025
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book April 2025 update
Update 80 amends the Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book to incorporate recent case law and legislation. The following chapters have been revised: Outline of trial procedure [1-005] Pre-trial procedures to add reference to Supreme Court Practice Note SC GEN 23 and Judicial...
Local Court Bench Book April 2025 update
News
Sentencing Bench Book March 2025 update
News
27 Mar 2025
Sentencing Bench Book March 2025 update
Update 61 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters, and incorporate recent case law and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised: Intensive correction orders (ICOs) (alternative to full-time imprisonment) [3-632] Mandatory...
Civil Trials Bench Book March 2025 update
News
18 Mar 2025
Civil Trials Bench Book March 2025 update
Update 59 — significant changes to “Disqualification for bias”, “Stay of pending proceedings”, “Opinion” and “Costs”. [1-0000] Disqualification for bias Some case examples have been moved to improve readability. At [1-0020] Apprehended bias a section describing...
Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook March 2025 update
News
13 Mar 2025
Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook March 2025 update
Update 21, March 2025 Care and protection matters Important cases have been updated, with new cases included in the following areas: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander placement principles at [3-1000] Adoption at [3-1020] Bias at...
Guide to modern slavery published
News
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book December 2024 update
News
13 Dec 2024
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book December 2024 update
Update 79 amends the Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book to incorporate recent case law and legislation. The following chapters have been revised: Accusatory statements in the presence of the accused [2-000] Introduction to add reference to R v KS (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1475...
Civil Trials Bench Book December 2024 update
News
11 Dec 2024
Civil Trials Bench Book December 2024 update
Update 58 [1-0000] Disqualification for bias At [1-0050] Circumstances arising during the hearing Heywood v Local Court of NSW [2024] NSWSC 1047 has been added. In this case, the cumulative effect of exchanges between the magistrate and the applicant’s counsel...
Local Court Bench Book December 2024 update
News
10 Dec 2024
Local Court Bench Book December 2024 update
Update 156 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters and incorporate recent cases and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised: Commonwealth offences revised to incorporate the increased penalty unit value of $330 from 7 November 2024 in...
Sexual Assault Trials Handbook December 2024 update
News
3 Dec 2024
Sexual Assault Trials Handbook December 2024 update
Update 44 amends the Handbook. The following sections have been updated: Offences New Table which provides information on NSW and Commonwealth sexual offence provisions (including the time period the provision was in force) added at [1-000] Table — NSW and Commonwealth sexual...
Sentencing Bench Book November 2024 update
News
28 Nov 2024
Sentencing Bench Book November 2024 update
Update 60 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters, and incorporate recent case law and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised: Intensive correction orders (ICOs) (alternative to full-time imprisonment) [3-660] Pronouncement of ICO...