What do you do if an empanelment goes ‘off script’, or if a juror breaks the rules? How do you create a question trail?
Join esteemed judicial officers including Deputy Chief Judge Meryl Sexton and the Hon Felicity Hampel AM to explore the complexities of jury trial management.
This event has been designed to provide trial judges with key skills to successfully communicate with jurors, navigate juror misconduct and appropriately consider and determine discharge applications. Guest speakers include Deputy Juries Commissioner Laurie Rumbold and the Hon Professor Peter Gray AM.
Attendees will also develop strategies for preparing the directions in a final charge, including creating integrated jury directions.
This program is essential for new judges, and will provide a refresher for more seasoned judges.
Speakers.
County Court of Victoria
Deputy Chief Judge Meryl Sexton
Deputy Chief Judge Meryl Sexton was appointed as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria on 21 August 2001. Her Honour was appointed as the inaugural Deputy Chief Judge of the County Court on 22 February 2022. Her Honour signed the Victorian Bar roll in 1985, and began appearing in criminal trials in 1987. From 1995 until her judicial appointment in 2001, she held an appointment as Crown Prosecutor for the State of Victoria. In October 2005, her Honour became the inaugural Judge in Charge of the Sex Offences List at the County Court, a position she held for a total of eight years.
Her Honour has been a member of a number of multi-jurisdictional State Government committees involving law reform and changing the way sexual assault cases are managed. She was a member of the council of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for ten years, and has been a member of the council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration since October 2022. Deputy Chief Judge Sexton has lectured extensively on the practice and procedure of criminal law to a variety of groups, particularly in relation to sexual offences, and the evidence of children.
County Court of Victoria
Deputy Chief Judge Meryl Sexton
Deputy Chief Judge Meryl Sexton was appointed as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria on 21 August 2001. Her Honour was appointed as the inaugural Deputy Chief Judge of the County Court on 22 February 2022. Her Honour signed the Victorian Bar roll in 1985, and began appearing in criminal trials in 1987. From 1995 until her judicial appointment in 2001, she held an appointment as Crown Prosecutor for the State of Victoria. In October 2005, her Honour became the inaugural Judge in Charge of the Sex Offences List at the County Court, a position she held for a total of eight years.
Her Honour has been a member of a number of multi-jurisdictional State Government committees involving law reform and changing the way sexual assault cases are managed. She was a member of the council of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine for ten years, and has been a member of the council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration since October 2022. Deputy Chief Judge Sexton has lectured extensively on the practice and procedure of criminal law to a variety of groups, particularly in relation to sexual offences, and the evidence of children.
Former judge of the Federal Court of Australia
The Hon Professor Peter Gray AM
The Hon Professor Peter Gray AM was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia for 29 years until his retirement in May 2013. Before his appointment as a judge, he practised at the Victorian Bar. During his judicial tenure, he also held office as a judge of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal, and Aboriginal Land Commissioner. He was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to the judiciary through the Federal Court of Australia, to legal education, and as a mentor.
Professor Gray's long-term interest in language and communication was enhanced by his experience as an advocate and a judge, and his work with Aboriginal communities sparked a particular Interest In cross-cultural communication, particularly In the legal system. This interest led him to forensic linguistics and to membership of the International Association of Forensic Linguists since 2003. In 2010 he published a chapter dealing with the contribution forensic linguists can make to the legal system in The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics.
Professor Gray has held adjunct professorial and teaching positions at the Australian National University, Deakin University, The University of Melbourne and Monash University teaching language and the law, and legal writing post-graduate subjects. His current adjunct appointment is as a professor at Swinburne University of Technology. Peter completed a Master of Applied Linguistics from the University of New England and in 2019, as part of his studies, wrote a dissertation titled ‘The Language of Jury Directions in Criminal Trials in Victoria’.
Former judge of the Federal Court of Australia
The Hon Professor Peter Gray AM
The Hon Professor Peter Gray AM was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia for 29 years until his retirement in May 2013. Before his appointment as a judge, he practised at the Victorian Bar. During his judicial tenure, he also held office as a judge of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia, President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal, and Aboriginal Land Commissioner. He was awarded Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to the judiciary through the Federal Court of Australia, to legal education, and as a mentor.
Professor Gray's long-term interest in language and communication was enhanced by his experience as an advocate and a judge, and his work with Aboriginal communities sparked a particular Interest In cross-cultural communication, particularly In the legal system. This interest led him to forensic linguistics and to membership of the International Association of Forensic Linguists since 2003. In 2010 he published a chapter dealing with the contribution forensic linguists can make to the legal system in The Routledge Handbook of Forensic Linguistics.
Professor Gray has held adjunct professorial and teaching positions at the Australian National University, Deakin University, The University of Melbourne and Monash University teaching language and the law, and legal writing post-graduate subjects. His current adjunct appointment is as a professor at Swinburne University of Technology. Peter completed a Master of Applied Linguistics from the University of New England and in 2019, as part of his studies, wrote a dissertation titled ‘The Language of Jury Directions in Criminal Trials in Victoria’.
Former Judge of the County Court of Victoria and Chair of the Post Sentence Authority
The Hon Felicity Hampel AM SC
The Hon Felicity Hampel AM SC is the Chair of the Post Sentence Authority, having retired as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria and vice president of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in June 2023. She commenced practice as a barrister in 1981, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996, converting to Senior Counsel in 2001. She was appointed to the County Court in 2005 and accepted a concurrent appointment as a Vice President of VCAT in 2010.
Felicity developed a national practice in human rights, administrative and criminal law before her appointment to the County Court. She sat predominantly in the criminal jurisdiction of the County Court, and across all divisions at VCAT.
Former Judge of the County Court of Victoria and Chair of the Post Sentence Authority
The Hon Felicity Hampel AM SC
The Hon Felicity Hampel AM SC is the Chair of the Post Sentence Authority, having retired as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria and vice president of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in June 2023. She commenced practice as a barrister in 1981, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996, converting to Senior Counsel in 2001. She was appointed to the County Court in 2005 and accepted a concurrent appointment as a Vice President of VCAT in 2010.
Felicity developed a national practice in human rights, administrative and criminal law before her appointment to the County Court. She sat predominantly in the criminal jurisdiction of the County Court, and across all divisions at VCAT.
Deputy Juries Commissioner, Juries Victoria
Laurie Rumbold
Laurie Rumbold’s career in Victorian courts has spanned nearly two decades, commencing as a Registrar of the Magistrates’ Court in 2004. As a Registrar, Laurie worked in many roles across several regional locations before relocating to Melbourne to study journalism at RMIT.
In 2013 Laurie accepted a position within the Supreme Court and joined the leadership team at Juries Victoria, where she has worked for the last 10 years. Laurie has collaborated with the Juries Commissioner to spearhead initiatives aimed at enhancing communication channels with those selected for jury service. These efforts have provided jurors with easier access to vital information and have streamlined procedures for excusal requests. Laurie played a pivotal role in the resumption of jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was recognised by an award for service excellence from Chief Judge Kidd in 2021.
Laurie’s experience in court user management has been extensive and is now driven by a passion for supporting individuals navigating the complexities of jury service. Laurie is dedicated to fostering understanding and empowerment throughout the juror experience.
Deputy Juries Commissioner, Juries Victoria
Laurie Rumbold
Laurie Rumbold’s career in Victorian courts has spanned nearly two decades, commencing as a Registrar of the Magistrates’ Court in 2004. As a Registrar, Laurie worked in many roles across several regional locations before relocating to Melbourne to study journalism at RMIT.
In 2013 Laurie accepted a position within the Supreme Court and joined the leadership team at Juries Victoria, where she has worked for the last 10 years. Laurie has collaborated with the Juries Commissioner to spearhead initiatives aimed at enhancing communication channels with those selected for jury service. These efforts have provided jurors with easier access to vital information and have streamlined procedures for excusal requests. Laurie played a pivotal role in the resumption of jury trials during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was recognised by an award for service excellence from Chief Judge Kidd in 2021.
Laurie’s experience in court user management has been extensive and is now driven by a passion for supporting individuals navigating the complexities of jury service. Laurie is dedicated to fostering understanding and empowerment throughout the juror experience.
Judicial College of Victoria
Matt Weatherson
Matt is the Judicial Information Advisor at the Judicial College of Victoria. He provides specialist technical review and quality assurance of the College’s legal publications. In addition, he is responsible for maintaining and delivering several complex publications and priority projects for the College, including the Civil and Criminal Charge Books. In 2023 he was awarded the AIJA Award for Excellence in Judicial Administration for his groundbreaking work on the College’s judicial precedent builders which have significantly streamlined the process of preparing jury directions.
Judicial College of Victoria
Matt Weatherson
Matt is the Judicial Information Advisor at the Judicial College of Victoria. He provides specialist technical review and quality assurance of the College’s legal publications. In addition, he is responsible for maintaining and delivering several complex publications and priority projects for the College, including the Civil and Criminal Charge Books. In 2023 he was awarded the AIJA Award for Excellence in Judicial Administration for his groundbreaking work on the College’s judicial precedent builders which have significantly streamlined the process of preparing jury directions.