Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason’s future on the Supreme Court

Suspended Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason says he has informed the government and Chief Justice of his intentions after being found guilty of common assault offences.

Justice Gregory Geason arrives Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Chris Kidd

Suspended Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason will quit his Supreme Court position “imminently”, and has already informed the government and Chief Justice of his intentions, a Hobart courtroom has heard.

The revelations about Justice Geason’s future came as Tasmania’s Director of Public Prosecutions called for the judge to receive a prison term for the offences of common assault and emotional abuse he was found guilty of last month.

Justice Gregory Geason at Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Justice Geason, 63, had pleaded not guilty to both charges, which were alleged to have been perpetrated against a woman over the course of nine months in 2023.

The case was heard by Victorian Deputy Chief Magistrate Susan Wakeling, who was appointed after it was found that no Tasmanian magistrate could.

During sentencing submissions on Tuesday morning, defence lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told Ms Wakeling that his client had “lost everything” following the legal findings against him, and had suffered the total destruction of his public image and professional life.

“The defendant considers that he has lost the moral authority for any judicial officer to sit in Judgement of other human beings,” Mr Cangelosi said.

“The defendant has reached the conclusion that he cannot sit as a judge.”

Mr Cangelosi said that although Justice Geason was yet to formally tender his resignation, he had communicated his decision to do so to both Chief Justice Alan Blow, and the state government.

Earlier, Tasmanian DPP, Daryl Coates SC, told the court there were significant aggravating factors in Justice Geason’s offending, which had arisen out of a desire to control, involved numerous applications of force, and resulted in ongoing negative effects to the complainant.

Describing the offences as serious, Mr Coates told Ms Wakeling that it was open to Her Honour to sentence Justice Geason to a term of actual or suspended imprisonment.

Proceedings have been adjourned until Thursday morning.

Originally published as Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason’s future on the Supreme Court