The Criminal & Litigation team has published the following products in the Court Practice & Procedure practice area in September 2013.

Federal Circuit Court Guidebook – Update 54

• Thomson Reuters is pleased to welcome the addition of Judge Toni Lucev as a contributor to the service. Judge Lucev became a partner of Freehill, Hollingdale and Page (now Herbert Smith Freehills) in July 1992. In April 1999 he went to the Bar, and whilst there spent 16 months as one of the Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry. In August 2006 he was appointed as a Federal Magistrate in the Federal Magistrates Court of Australia. In April 2013 he became a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

• Judge Lucev has written substantial new commentary on the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999.

• Jillian Francis has updated the New Developments section.

• Legislative amendments have been made to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 and the Family Law Act 1976.

• The Application for the Migration Act form has been updated in accordance with the change to the title of the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship to the Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship. 

Magistrates Court SA – Update 88 

• Andrew Cannon and Garry Hiskey have written new commentary on the Magistrates Court Act 1991 and the Annotated Magistrates Court (Civil) Rules.
• Legislative amendments have been made to the Magistrates Court Rules 1992, Motor Vehicles Act 1959, the Magistrates Court (Fees) Regulations 2004 and the Retail and Commercial Leases Act 1995. 

NSW Local Courts – Update 67 

• Michael Morahan has written new commentary on commencing actions, pre-hearing, procedure at hearing, judgment and orders and payment and enforcement. 

Queensland Civil Practice – Update 85 

• Dan Morgan has written new commentary on the Probate and Administration and Trust Estates chapter.
• Justin Carter has written new commentary on the Costs chapter.
• Bernard Cairns has written new commentary on the QCAT chapter.
• Legislative amendments have been made to the:
  • Evidence Act 1977
  • Uniform Civil Procedure (Fees) Regulation 2009
  • Supreme Court of Queensland Act 1991
  • Civil Proceedings Act 2011
  • District Court Act 1967
  •  Appeal Costs Fund Act 1973
  • Appeal Costs Fund Regulation 2010 

Uniform Evidence Law – Update 52 

• Stephen Odgers SC has included new case law and commentary relevant to various sections of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth and NSW), the Evidence Act 2008 (Vic), the Evidence Act 2001 (Tas), the Evidence Act 2011 (ACT) and the Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) Act (NT).
• Legislative amendments have been made to the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW) and the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic).

Victorian Courts – Update 239 

• Gerry Nash QC has written new commentary in relation to assessing costs, balancing case management against a fair trial, admissibility of hearsay evidence, legal professional privilege, the impact of the Civil Procedure Act 2010, disparity in sentences and order on appeals.

• Legislative amendments have been made to the:
  • Magistrates’ Court General Civil Procedure Rules 2010
  •  Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984
  • Juries Act 2000
  • Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2008
  • Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Act 1985
  • Coroners Act 2008
  • Sentencing Act 1991
  • Sentencing Regulations 2011
  • Criminal Procedure Act 2009

• New Practice Directions were issued by the Chief Magistrate. These include:
  • PD 1 of 2013 – Audio Recordings
  • PD 2 of 2013 – Bail Hearings and Bail Applications
  • PD 3 of 2013 – Forensicare patients attending Magistrates’ Courts.

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