Tasmanian Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason facing further criminal charges in NSW

Tasmanian Justice Gregory Geason, who awaiting a court appearance in Hobart, is facing further criminal charges in NSW. The details.

New Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason swearing in ceremony in the Supreme Court in Hobart. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE.

Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason is facing further criminal charges after NSW police alleged he breached a domestic violence order on three separate occasions.

Justice Geason, 62, appeared in an out-of-hours sitting of the Hobart Magistrates Court on December 1 charged with one count of common assault and one count of emotional abuse.

He had pleaded not guilty and was bailed to appear on February 6.

He is the first Tasmanian judge in 200 years to be charged with criminal offences.

The Mercury has learned Justice Geason has also been charged in New South Wales.

In response to inquiries, NSW Police said a 62-year-old man would face court in Sydney next month.

Supreme Court of Tasmania Justice Gregory Geason

“NSW Police have issued a Future Service Court Attendance Notice following alleged breaches of a Domestic Violence Order,” the statement said.

“Police will allege in court, a 62-year-old Tasmanian man breached an ADVO while in NSW on Monday 20 November, Monday 27 November, and Wednesday 29 November last year.

“The man is due to appear at the Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday 22 February 2024.”

The maximum penalty for breaching an ADVO in NSW is a $5,500 fine, or two years imprisonment, or both.

In a special sitting in December, the state government reconvened both houses to consider a motion on whether to suspend Justice Geason.

That bid, and an earlier attempt to hold a Commission of Inquiry into the matter were both abandoned after constitutional lawyers cast doubt on their legality.

Justice Geason has been on leave since early November.

He has given a written undertaking not to exercise any of the powers of a judge until the matters against him are resolved.

Comment was sought from Justice Geason’s Hobart lawyers, from Attorney-General Guy Barnett and from the Department of Justice.

Justice Geason, who was best man at former Premier Will Hodgman’s wedding, was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench in 2017.

At the time of his appointment, he was hailed as having 30 years of experience in civil and criminal matters in state and federal courts.

“The court will have before it the unfortunate and the fortunate, the powerful and the weak, the strong and the broken,” he said at his swearing-in.

“I’ll do my best to live up to your expectations of me.”