The launch of the new Supreme and District Courts – Criminal Jury Trials – Benchbook last month was a cause for celebration for those practising in criminal law.
“It feels a bit like a legal wedding, and we’re in the bridal party, and we’re now expected to toast the benchbook,” Director of Public Prosecutions Todd Fuller KC joked at the 30 September event at Brisbane’s Banco Court.
“So, I will do that,” Mr Fuller said.
And he did, pointing out the myriad benefits of the now online resource developed by the Benchbook Committee.
He said the bar table and judges had a collective responsibility to ensure they were in the best position to engage with juries, make proper directions and identify issues.
“This is a wonderful tool for that to be done. And so, it becomes both a trial resource, a preparation aid resource and an educative resource,” he said.
“And we need to look at it in that way.”
Mr Fuller, who was part of an expert panel at the launch, said it would ultimately lead to better justice outcomes via fewer mistrials, fewer appeals and fewer retrials.
He congratulated the Benchbook Committee on enabling almost instant updates, and this was echoed by his fellow panellists: barristers Jeffrey Hunter KC, Laura Reece KC and Joseph Briggs; Roberta Devereaux, Director of Public Prosecutions (Commonwealth); and Kristy Bell, Queensland Law Society Accredited Specialist in Criminal Law and QLS representative.
Chief Justice Helen Bowskill (pictured speaking below) said the resource reflected decades of work by judges who had contributed their wisdom, experience and time to serve on the committee.
Committee chair, Judge Michael Byrne KC, said the committee had not sought to reinvent the document, that it was the same product of years of careful work.
“But what has changed is the way in which that content can now be accessed, searched, updated, and ultimately used by the judges and practitioners,” Judge Byrne said.
About 330 people attended the launch, including 215 online, which doubled as a demonstration. The panel discussion was followed by a Q&A session.
Access the new benchbook and tutorials here.
Practitioners are encouraged to provide feedback via benchbookfeedback@courts.qld.gov.au.
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