County Court judge lashes out at lazy psychologist reports
A County Court judge has teed off on psychologists, saying courts could place less weight on their reports after he received a “cut and paste job” with someone else’s name on it.
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A County Court judge fears the psychologist process when assessing offenders may reduce the weight courts place on their reports.
Judge Michael Tinney latest jab at psychologists’ “shortcomings” in their process came while sentencing a dodgy KFC manager earlier this month.
“I’ve expressed as I have on countless occasions over the last six months my concern that psychologists are now, it would seem, routinely using video links to conduct assessments,” Judge Tinney said.
“It really shouldn’t be happening, and ordinarily that factor, I think, would reduce the weight that any court could place on the report.”
Judge Tinney, while sentencing drug trafficker Robert Olczyc in September, lashed a psychologist who used “careless language” in a report.
According to Judge Tinney, the psychologist saw the offender only once and just two days before the September 17 plea.
“Heaven knows what he is doing raising the issue of a Community Corrections Order in a case such as this as he does in his written report,” Judge Tinney said.
“Nor am I particularly impressed by the cut and paste job that in paragraph 7.5 has him recommend strategies for people who will be working with Mr Lebdeh, whoever he may be, you’re not Mr Lebdeh.”
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NEW CHIEF MAGISTRATE
Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan – a former heavyweight County Court judge – has begun her new role as the Victorian Magistrates’ Court boss. Ms Hannan commenced the role on November 18 following former Chief Magistrate Peter Lauritsen’s retirement. Chief Magistrate Hannan’s appointment means 50 per cent of magistrates are now women – the first time in Victoria’s history that equal representation has been achieved in the Magistrates’ Court. Ms Hannan joined the Victorian Bar in 1988. She spent eight years as a magistrate and 13 years as a County Court judge.
BROADMEADOWS CARJACKER
A GHB-addled crook who held up an apprentice with a taser has been jailed. James Smith, 33, was sentenced in the County Court on October 25 to a minimum three years’ prison after pleading guilty to two charges of armed robbery, one charge of attempting to obtain property by deception, two charges of theft and one charge of aggravated carjacking. Smith robbed two men by knifepoint in Broadmeadows on October 25, 2017. Smith drove to a Sunshine West panel beater shop on February 17, 2018 where he used a taser to hold up a young apprentice panel beater. Smith was sentenced to a maximum five years and six months’ prison. He had spent 571 days in custody at the time of sentencing.
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The Solicitor for Public Prosecutions for Victoria John Cain will begin as a County Court judge next month. Mr Cain will also be the new State Coroner. Mr Cain’s was managing partner of Maurice Blackburn for ten years. He was also Chief Executive of the Law Institute of Victoria for five years. Mr Cain introduced the Victim Support Dog program.