Criminal case of Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason to hear from 14 witnesses and last five days

A temporary, interstate magistrate will soon be appointed to preside over the criminal case of Tasmanian Supreme Court judge, Gregory Geason. What will happen next >

Gregory Geason leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court following an April hearing. Picture: Chris Kidd

A temporary, interstate magistrate is expected to soon be appointed to preside over the criminal case of Tasmanian Supreme Court judge, Gregory Geason.

On Wednesday, a brief administrative hearing was held for Justice Geason in the Hobart Magistrates Court – ahead of a contested hearing due to begin on July 15.

Justice Geason has pleaded not guilty to allegations of common assault, and emotional abuse or intimidation.

He did not appear in court in person, but dialled in via telephone.

Melbourne-based Crown prosecutor Neill Hutton said the contested hearing would likely not last longer than five days, and would hear evidence from 14 witnesses.

Justice Geason’s lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi agreed on the length of the hearing, but said the defence team was also arranging an expert to give evidence.

Magistrate Jackie Hartnett told him that dates were also available on July 22 and 23, beyond the five days, if necessary.

Ms Hartnett heard an iPad was currently being examined to see if some of Justice Geason’s “contemporaneous notes” could be extracted from it.

In a previous hearing, Ms Hartnett she was only conducting the early administration of Justice Geason’s case until the Attorney-General publicly appointed a temporary, interstate magistrate to preside over the hearing.

She said all Tasmanian magistrates were unable to sit on the case.

Gregory Geason outside court in April. Picture: Chris Kidd

On Wednesday, she said that temporary appointment hadn’t occurred yet, “but we can arrange that”.

Ms Hartnett scheduled a further administrative hearing before the July case, hopefully “with the magistrate who will hear the case”.

The 62-year-old, who is on bail, will likely dial in by phone to that hearing also, when it is held on July 5.

Justice Geason, who has been on leave from his judicial role since November last year, is the first Tasmanian judge to ever be charged with criminal offences.

According to particulars previously released by the court, Justice Geason was charged with common assault after he allegedly grabbed a woman “by the arms and squeezing, shaking her and striking her chest with your hand”.

He also allegedly tracked a person’s movements using technology, scrutinised a person’s electronic devices and reviewed their messages, subjecting a person to verbal abuse, and pressured them into signing a contract of sale on a home.

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Originally published as Criminal case of Tasmanian judge Gregory Geason to hear from 14 witnesses and last five days