The Snitch: Judges forced to stop work to attend wellness sessions

Will wellness sessions add to the District Court backlog? What did the headline reviewer of the state’s sexual assault audit get busted for? And which fashion items are up for grabs from Australia’s biggest tax fraud bust? The Snitch is here.

In an effort to make the District Court the kinder, gentler place we all want it to be, its judges have been asked to adjourn their cases early four times a year to attend wellness sessions.

Snitch has been leaked an email sent to the troops by Chief Judge Sarah Huggett asking them to pause whatever they are doing to attend the sessions that run from 3.30pm to 5pm.

“The Chief Judge really encourages you to adjourn court early and attend one of the sessions,” the email said.

“The topic for February is ‘Sustaining yourself for the long haul’ as it was the most requested topic in the post-session evaluation.”

The most recent in-person session took place on February 24, with an online session taking place two days later.

Chief Judge Sarah Huggett. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

For the uninitiated, the District Court deals with most of the serious criminal cases in NSW, such as child sex matters and extreme violence cases.

So the judges spend their lives hearing the worst society has to offer.

It’s gruelling stuff.

But there is the question of weighing up the non-stop backlog of cases the court is facing against pausing cases to have the judges tend to their mental wellbeing.

What do the judges think?

It’s a mixture.

The judges have been asked to take part in wellness sessions.

One blew up about being forced to adjourn cases when the system is already overloaded.

Another responded to the question of whether they adjourned early to attend: “Of course! Much better for it too.”

A third, who didn’t want to talk about it, might need an extra session.

“I’m not a snitch,” the judge said.

HOW TO RUN YOUR COURT

Another email sent to judges recently has a number of noses out of joint.

It came from the NSW Judicial Commission and was an invitation to attend a compulsory seminar on what several are interpreting as an unwelcome attempt to tell very experienced and qualified judicial officers how to do their job.

Titled “Courtrooms as workplaces”, the email signed off with the reminder that “all judges are expected to attend”.

“This session will discuss the role of the judge to ensure the courtroom is a respectful, productive and safe environment for everyone,” the email said.

“Maintaining that can at times be challenging and stressful.”

Sounds like a cracker.

ARISE, SIR MAX

One of the people who reviewed Sally Dowling SC’s audit into the state’s sexual assault cases was no less than Sir Max Hill KC, the former DPP of England and Britain.

And how do we know Sir Max is well versed on public process and procedure?

Sir Max Hill KC. Picture: Supplied

Well, beyond the fact he was Blighty’s DPP for five years, he was publicly accused of breaching rules relating to taking jobs in the private sector after leaving a government position.

Hill’s critics claimed he jumped too quickly for a job in a private law firm and a charity after stepping down as the chief prosecutor.

Hill was reported by a government appointments watchdog for what was alleged to be an “unambiguous breach” of its revolving door rules by failing to wait for advice on whether he should take the jobs.

He rejected the claims and retorted that he was “aggrieved at any suggestion” that he had “acted in breach of the principles of maintaining a separation between my former service and my current employment”.

FASHION CRIME

Sunday is the last day to pick up some of the goods seized in Australia’s biggest tax fraud investigation at possibly bargain basement prices.

First State Auction is selling the mountain of designer goods seized from Adam Cranston and his cronies after they took the tax office for $105 million.

The Tom Ford jacket that is estimated to go for more than $1000.

Snitch’s more fashion aware colleagues tell us there are some legit bargains in the mix.

Apparently $6000 is a good price for a Hermes Jypsiere 28 handbag.

The Tom Ford brown suede jacket is a bit ghastly though. Steer clear of that.

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