The Court of Appeal has made history while on circuit in Bendigo.
President of the Court of Appeal Justice Karin Emerton, Justice Maree Kennedy and Justice Rowena Orr sat in Bendigo this week – the first time a bench of all women has sat on circuit.
The judges heard two regional cases as part of the sitting and spoke with Latrobe University law students and Bendigo Senior Secondary College VCE legal studies students.
President Emerton said it was a historic occasion that as well as the bench consisting of all women, senior and junior counsel on both sides in one of the appeals were also all women.
“During my career I saw the appointment of the first female Supreme Court judge of Victoria in 1996 and the first female Chief Justice of Victoria in 2003, now I am the first female President of the Court of Appeal. It is my hope that women coming into the law now don’t have to break new ground and that their talents and hard work will be recognised,” she said.
The Court of Appeal is the State’s highest court and hears appeals from the Supreme Court, County Court, Magistrates’ Court, and VCAT.
Justice Kennedy said the university and secondary students had asked thoughtful and insightful questions about the work of the Court, including the challenges of group decision making.
“We always enjoy the opportunity to explain our role and encourage the next generation of lawyers,” she said.
Justice Orr said circuit hearings were an important way in which access to justice could be facilitated.
“Circuits present a valuable opportunity to hear appeals in the communities they affect,” she said.
The Court of Appeal’s next circuit will be to Latrobe Valley in August.
The civil and criminal divisions of the Supreme Court also regularly sit in regional areas