Bench books and publications news

Equality before the Law Bench Book April 2025 update
Equality before the Law Bench Book April 2025 update
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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
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book April 2025 update
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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
Local Court Bench Book April 2025 update
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News
4 Apr 2025

Local Court Bench Book April 2025 update

Update 157 includes amendments to General Orders regarding ICOs and the application of Vamadevan v R — Apprehended Violence Orders — Children’s Court criminal jurisdiction.

Sentencing Bench Book March 2025 update
Sentencing Bench Book March 2025 update
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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
Civil Trials Bench Book March 2025 update
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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
Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook March 2025 update
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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
Guide to modern slavery published
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News
5 Feb 2025

Guide to modern slavery published

The Judicial Commission is pleased to announce the publication of the third in our e-resource series, Modern slavery: a guide for NSW judicial officers. Published January 2025, the resource is available in pdf format.
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book December 2024 update
Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book December 2024 update
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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
Civil Trials Bench Book December 2024 update
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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
Local Court Bench Book December 2024 update
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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
Sexual Assault Trials Handbook December 2024 update
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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
Sentencing Bench Book November 2024 update
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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...
Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook November 2024 update
Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook November 2024 update
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News
26 Nov 2024

Children's Court of NSW Resource Handbook November 2024 update

Update 20, November 2024 Care and protection matters Care tree at [2-2000]ff has been revised and updated by his Honour Magistrate Hayes. A new paragraph has been added at [2-2270] Apprehended bias. Amendments have been made to: Legal testat
Civil Trials Bench Book Update 57 published
Civil Trials Bench Book Update 57 published
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News
20 Sep 2024

Civil Trials Bench Book Update 57 published

[1-0000] Disqualification for bias Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd v Environment Protection Authority (2023) 112 NSWLR 507 has been added at [1-0020] Apprehended bias regarding the judge’s decision not to disclose (citing Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy (2000)...