Robust exchanges between judicial officers and lawyers in the courtroom are common. There are complex dynamics in this unique workplace. But when does a response overstep the mark and become ‘judicial bullying’?
The Judicial College of Victoria and the Judicial Commission of Victoria invite all Victorian judicial officers to attend A hypothetical about judicial bullying at the College’s new premises Level 16, 181 William St, Melbourne.
Inspired by Geoffrey Robertson AO KC's Hypothetical series and chaired by Chief Justice Anne Ferguson, our panellists will counsel their fictional colleagues who struggle to align personal and professional obligations, behaviour and self-image.
This engaging and educative session follows the Judicial Commission’s recent sector wide consultation on judicial bullying and precedes its soon to be released finding.
This is an in-person event only and we look forward to seeing you at the College.
Facilitator.
Aticus
Ben Richards
Mr Ben Richards co-founded communications consultancy Aticus in 1997 with Tony Burke, MP. He has 25 years’ experience working with lawyers at all levels on critical communications. Clients have included all of Australia’s major national firms, the Victorian Bar and the Judicial Commission. Mr Richards has devised and facilitated a number of prominent hypothetical events for Monash University at Federation Square, and legal ethics hypotheticals for General Counsels on behalf of Clayton Utz. In a previous millennium he was a very ordinary law student and a World Masters debating champion.
Aticus
Ben Richards
Mr Ben Richards co-founded communications consultancy Aticus in 1997 with Tony Burke, MP. He has 25 years’ experience working with lawyers at all levels on critical communications. Clients have included all of Australia’s major national firms, the Victorian Bar and the Judicial Commission. Mr Richards has devised and facilitated a number of prominent hypothetical events for Monash University at Federation Square, and legal ethics hypotheticals for General Counsels on behalf of Clayton Utz. In a previous millennium he was a very ordinary law student and a World Masters debating champion.
Panellists.
Supreme Court of Victoria
Justice Kevin Lyons
Justice Lyons was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2018 after practising as a junior and senior counsel for approximately 20 years. He has served on the Ethics and Applications Review Committees of the Victorian Bar, the board of the Victoria Law Foundation and on the Legal Practice Committee of the Legal Services Board. Justice Lyons is currently a member of the Commercial Court and he is the judge in charge of the Arbitration List and the Insurance List.
Supreme Court of Victoria
Justice Kevin Lyons
Justice Lyons was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2018 after practising as a junior and senior counsel for approximately 20 years. He has served on the Ethics and Applications Review Committees of the Victorian Bar, the board of the Victoria Law Foundation and on the Legal Practice Committee of the Legal Services Board. Justice Lyons is currently a member of the Commercial Court and he is the judge in charge of the Arbitration List and the Insurance List.
Barrister
Dr Matthew Collins AM KC
Dr Matthew Collins AM KC is a barrister, academic and writer and has appeared in prominent defamation and free speech cases. Dr Collins holds a PhD in law from Melbourne University and is the author of Collins on Defamation and The Law of Defamation and the Internet. He was the President of the Australian Bar Association in 2021-22. He is a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the Board and Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration. Dr Collins has appeared in several Royal Commissions both as Counsel Assisting and lead counsel for affected parties. In 2019, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, to legal standards, and to education. In 2020, he was named one of Australia’s 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders by Deloitte Australia.
Barrister
Dr Matthew Collins AM KC
Dr Matthew Collins AM KC is a barrister, academic and writer and has appeared in prominent defamation and free speech cases. Dr Collins holds a PhD in law from Melbourne University and is the author of Collins on Defamation and The Law of Defamation and the Internet. He was the President of the Australian Bar Association in 2021-22. He is a Senior Fellow at the Melbourne Law School, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the Board and Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration. Dr Collins has appeared in several Royal Commissions both as Counsel Assisting and lead counsel for affected parties. In 2019, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law, to legal standards, and to education. In 2020, he was named one of Australia’s 50 Outstanding LGBTI+ Leaders by Deloitte Australia.
Workplace culture expert
Rhonda Brighton-Hall
A former HR leader and Telstra Businesswomen of the Year, Rhonda Brighton-Hall is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost experts in Human Resources, specialising in culture, leadership, talent, workplace, diversity and the future of work. She is the CEO and founder of workplace consultancy mwah. Ms Brighton-Hall holds a Bachelor of Organisational Psychology and IR, a Post Graduate Degree in Organisational Psychology, and a Diploma of Strategic HR. She is renowned for her great depth of thinking on leadership and cultural inclusion, and her strong commitment to process design simplicity and excellent execution that sticks.
Workplace culture expert
Rhonda Brighton-Hall
A former HR leader and Telstra Businesswomen of the Year, Rhonda Brighton-Hall is recognised as one of Australia’s foremost experts in Human Resources, specialising in culture, leadership, talent, workplace, diversity and the future of work. She is the CEO and founder of workplace consultancy mwah. Ms Brighton-Hall holds a Bachelor of Organisational Psychology and IR, a Post Graduate Degree in Organisational Psychology, and a Diploma of Strategic HR. She is renowned for her great depth of thinking on leadership and cultural inclusion, and her strong commitment to process design simplicity and excellent execution that sticks.
Organisational psychologist
Adj. Professor Melissa Casey
Adj. Professor Melissa Casey is Principal Psychologist of Agile Mental Health, which has a team of specialist and experienced psychologists who provide clinical wellbeing support to Judicial Officers. Her focus is on optimising the mental health and wellbeing of employees who work in complex and regulated workplaces. Professor Casey has led several award-winning mental health care innovations that have transformed the delivery of Clinical Wellbeing and Mental Health care in Victoria. She was Director of Psychology at Monash Health for ten years, Deputy Chair and Chair of Vic/Tas/ACT AHPRA Regional Psychology Board for seven years, and has taught in the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Melbourne and Monash University over the last 20 years.
Organisational psychologist
Adj. Professor Melissa Casey
Adj. Professor Melissa Casey is Principal Psychologist of Agile Mental Health, which has a team of specialist and experienced psychologists who provide clinical wellbeing support to Judicial Officers. Her focus is on optimising the mental health and wellbeing of employees who work in complex and regulated workplaces. Professor Casey has led several award-winning mental health care innovations that have transformed the delivery of Clinical Wellbeing and Mental Health care in Victoria. She was Director of Psychology at Monash Health for ten years, Deputy Chair and Chair of Vic/Tas/ACT AHPRA Regional Psychology Board for seven years, and has taught in the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at Melbourne and Monash University over the last 20 years.
Director of the Judicial Commission of Victoria
Alexis Eddy
Ms Alexis Eddy was appointed Director in October 2019. Before commencing her role at the Commission, she was head of legal and compliance at the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. Prior to that Ms Eddy was with the Office of Police Integrity and the Department of Justice in criminal law policy. She has worked as a prosecuting solicitor at the Office of Public Prosecutions and as an industrial relations and equal opportunity lawyer at a major law firm. Ms Eddy has an expert understanding of the Victorian integrity regime, best practice policies and procedures and comes with a depth of knowledge and expertise across the justice system. Ms Eddy is passionate about wellbeing in the workplace and leading an organisation where this is prioritised.
Director of the Judicial Commission of Victoria
Alexis Eddy
Ms Alexis Eddy was appointed Director in October 2019. Before commencing her role at the Commission, she was head of legal and compliance at the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission. Prior to that Ms Eddy was with the Office of Police Integrity and the Department of Justice in criminal law policy. She has worked as a prosecuting solicitor at the Office of Public Prosecutions and as an industrial relations and equal opportunity lawyer at a major law firm. Ms Eddy has an expert understanding of the Victorian integrity regime, best practice policies and procedures and comes with a depth of knowledge and expertise across the justice system. Ms Eddy is passionate about wellbeing in the workplace and leading an organisation where this is prioritised.
Event resources.
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DocumentJUDICIAL LIFE
Judicial Bullying: Consultation Paper.
What distinguishes appropriate judicial conduct from conduct that is inappropriate or unacceptable? At [79] and following, the Judicial Commission analyses how a range of sources – from legislation and case law, to guidelines and socio-legal research – inform the standards of conduct expected of judicial officers, with particular focus on bullying.