Update 21, March 2025 Care and protection matters Important cases have been updated, with new cases included in the following areas: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander placement principles at [3-1000] Adoption at [3-1020] Bias at...

The Judicial Commission is pleased to announce the publication of the third in our e-resource series, Modern slavery: a guide for NSW judicial officers. Published January 2025, the resource is available in pdf format.

Update 79 amends the Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book to incorporate recent case law and legislation. The following chapters have been revised: Accusatory statements in the presence of the accused [2-000] Introduction to add reference to R v KS (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1475...

Update 58 [1-0000] Disqualification for bias At [1-0050] Circumstances arising during the hearing Heywood v Local Court of NSW [2024] NSWSC 1047 has been added. In this case, the cumulative effect of exchanges between the magistrate and the applicant’s counsel...

Update 156 amends the Bench Book to update and revise various chapters and incorporate recent cases and legislative developments. The following chapters have been revised: Commonwealth offences revised to incorporate the increased penalty unit value of $330 from 7 November 2024 in...

Update 44 amends the Handbook. The following sections have been updated: Offences New Table which provides information on NSW and Commonwealth sexual offence provisions (including the time period the provision was in force) added at [1-000] Table — NSW and Commonwealth sexual...