Opinion

Better to have seven judges and skip the circus

The High Court has given itself important flexibility with the Pell appeal, referring the case to the full bench.

Michael PellyLegal editor

Nov 13, 2019 – 2.16pm

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EDITOR'S NOTE: The High Court overturned Cardinal George Pell's conviction for historic child sex offences in a judgment handed down April 7, 2020. In a unanimous decision all seven High Court judges found Victoria's Court of Appeal should not have upheld Pell's conviction It found the evidence could not support a guilty verdict.

Justice Mark Weinberg made it very hard for the High Court not to take on the Cardinal George Pell appeal.

Michael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson. Email Michael at michael.pelly@afr.com