Attorney-General to make announcement on future of judge accused of criminal offences

Attorney-General Guy Barnett is expected to make a statement about the future of Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason, who has been accused of family violence offences, in the coming days. What has happened so far.

Supreme Court justice Gregory Geason leaves Hobart Magistrates Court. Picture: 7 Tasmania News.

Attorney-General Guy Barnett is expected to make a statement about the future of Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason in the coming days.

Justice Geason, 62, appeared before the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday charged with assault and emotional abuse.

He has since pleaded not guilty to both charges.

He has been on leave from since being served with a police family violence order in early November.

Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation Madeleine Ogilvie said the matter was under consideration.

Supreme Court of Tasmania Justice Gregory Geason.

“We’ve had a conversation about this in Cabinet today and the Attorney-General would have more to say in coming days,” Ms Ogilvie said.

Among the options being considered is recalling Parliament.

A judge can only be dismissed by a motion of both houses, but MPs begin their long summer recess at the end of this week.

Ms Ogilvie said she was disappointed Friday’s Magistrates Court hearing was held behind closed doors.

“It was disappointing. I think that the court has been clear, they’ve apologised that a decision was made that was not the right one and I hope that probably wouldn’t occur again,” she said.

“But again, open justice. Justice has to be seen to be done. This is important.”

Shadow Attorney-General Ella Haddad said questions remained about the handling of the case.

“The apology from the Magistrates Court for media being barred from the court appearance of Supreme Court judge Greg Geason doesn’t explain why the decision was made, how the decision was made and by whom,” she said.

“The Administrator of the Court said there were ‘unusual and unprecedented circumstances’,“
“However there is nothing ‘unusual and unprecedented’ about family violence offending and the hearing should have been treated the same way as any other person facing family violence charges.

“What is unusual and unprecedented is barring the media from a hearing seemingly because of the defendant’s high profile.

“This looks like a case of one rule for this defendant and another rule for everyone else and adds further to the culture of secrecy and lack of transparency that has become a hallmark of this government.”

Ms Haddad said the case should be heard by an interstate judge when it is next before a court.