One of the most requested programs in our recent judge’s education survey, this event will help magistrates refine how they manage contested hearings.
Summary contested hearings canvass many issues and must be resolved in a short space of time. Magistrates must often respond to unexpected procedural and legal challenges.
Practical and interactive, this full day workshop will explore such issues as:
- preparatory steps to ensure the smooth running of the hearing with practical pointers and clarity on what to do before and at the start of a hearing
- how to evaluate the reliability and credibility of witnesses
- decision-making and unconscious bias risks arising from subconscious processes and assumptions.
Note: This event is open to judicial officers from the Magistrates' Court only.
Speakers.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Michael O’Connell
Judge O’Connell was admitted to practise in 1987, before signing the Bar Roll in 1990. His Honour was appointed silk in 2008, and appointed as a judge in the Criminal Division of the County Court of Victoria in 2017. Since admission, Judge O’Connell has practised exclusively in criminal law as a trial and appellate advocate. His Honour is the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and has been a Senior Advocacy Instructor with the Australian Institute of Advocacy since 1997. Judge O’Connell has taught trial advocacy in Australia and internationally, particularly in Indonesia.
County Court of Victoria
Judge Michael O’Connell
Judge O’Connell was admitted to practise in 1987, before signing the Bar Roll in 1990. His Honour was appointed silk in 2008, and appointed as a judge in the Criminal Division of the County Court of Victoria in 2017. Since admission, Judge O’Connell has practised exclusively in criminal law as a trial and appellate advocate. His Honour is the former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Criminal Bar Association, and has been a Senior Advocacy Instructor with the Australian Institute of Advocacy since 1997. Judge O’Connell has taught trial advocacy in Australia and internationally, particularly in Indonesia.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Deputy Chief Magistrate Timothy Bourke
Deputy Chief Magistrate Bourke was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in 2014, and was appointed Deputy Chief Magistrate in charge of Court Operations in July 2022. Prior to joining the bench, Deputy Chief Magistrate Bourke practised at the Victorian Bar for 10 years, appearing in all Victorian jurisdictions in criminal and civil work. At the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, his Honour has also held the positions of Lead Magistrate of Technology, Innovation and Change, Lead Magistrate for the introduction of the online court in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Regional Coordinating Magistrate.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Deputy Chief Magistrate Timothy Bourke
Deputy Chief Magistrate Bourke was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in 2014, and was appointed Deputy Chief Magistrate in charge of Court Operations in July 2022. Prior to joining the bench, Deputy Chief Magistrate Bourke practised at the Victorian Bar for 10 years, appearing in all Victorian jurisdictions in criminal and civil work. At the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, his Honour has also held the positions of Lead Magistrate of Technology, Innovation and Change, Lead Magistrate for the introduction of the online court in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Regional Coordinating Magistrate.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Donna Bakos
Magistrate Bakos was appointed to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria in September 2002, with 13 years of practice at the Victorian Bar in criminal defence prior to her appointment.
During her time at the Bar, Magistrate Bakos was an advocacy instructor for the Bar Readers’ Course, and a long-term committee member of the Criminal Bar association. Her Honour was also and instructor at the Leo Cussen Institute for Practical Legal Training for 11 years in criminal law and advocacy. As Head of the Criminal Division, Magistrate Bakos oversees the Court’s response to law reform on all proposals that intersect with the criminal jurisdiction of the court. Her Honour leads the Division through changes to criminal practice and procedure and chairs several criminal law committees.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Donna Bakos
Magistrate Bakos was appointed to the Magistrates' Court of Victoria in September 2002, with 13 years of practice at the Victorian Bar in criminal defence prior to her appointment.
During her time at the Bar, Magistrate Bakos was an advocacy instructor for the Bar Readers’ Course, and a long-term committee member of the Criminal Bar association. Her Honour was also and instructor at the Leo Cussen Institute for Practical Legal Training for 11 years in criminal law and advocacy. As Head of the Criminal Division, Magistrate Bakos oversees the Court’s response to law reform on all proposals that intersect with the criminal jurisdiction of the court. Her Honour leads the Division through changes to criminal practice and procedure and chairs several criminal law committees.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Belinda Wallington
Magistrate Wallington was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in April 2003. Her Honour was the Supervising Magistrate for Sex Offences for a number of years, before being assigned to the Children’s Court of Victoria between 2009 and 2013. Magistrate Wallington helped establish specialist sexual assault lists in both the Criminal and Family Divisions at the Children’s Court of Victoria. Her Honour spent three years between 2020 and 2022 at the Latrobe Valley, where she sat in the ARC list. Magistrate Wallington sits in the Koori Court at Melbourne, and for many years her Honour sat in the Koori Court at Mildura.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Belinda Wallington
Magistrate Wallington was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria in April 2003. Her Honour was the Supervising Magistrate for Sex Offences for a number of years, before being assigned to the Children’s Court of Victoria between 2009 and 2013. Magistrate Wallington helped establish specialist sexual assault lists in both the Criminal and Family Divisions at the Children’s Court of Victoria. Her Honour spent three years between 2020 and 2022 at the Latrobe Valley, where she sat in the ARC list. Magistrate Wallington sits in the Koori Court at Melbourne, and for many years her Honour sat in the Koori Court at Mildura.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Tim Gattuso
Magistrate Gattuso was admitted to legal practice in 1993 and spent 22 years as a defence solicitor with Slades & Parsons, including 15 years as a partner/director. He served on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Criminal Law Division Executive for eight years, including two years as co-chair. Appointed to the Magistracy in 2015, his Honour initially served as the Lead Family Violence Magistrate at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court. He later became the Supervising Magistrate of Family Violence Crime, a role he held for four years until August 2024.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Tim Gattuso
Magistrate Gattuso was admitted to legal practice in 1993 and spent 22 years as a defence solicitor with Slades & Parsons, including 15 years as a partner/director. He served on the Law Institute of Victoria’s Criminal Law Division Executive for eight years, including two years as co-chair. Appointed to the Magistracy in 2015, his Honour initially served as the Lead Family Violence Magistrate at the Frankston Magistrates’ Court. He later became the Supervising Magistrate of Family Violence Crime, a role he held for four years until August 2024.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Mia Stylianou
Prior to her appointment, Magistrate Stylianou was a barrister practising in criminal law, with particular expertise in jury trials involving sexual offences. Her Honour has defended and prosecuted extensively for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the Bar in 2007, Magistrate Stylianou worked for Victoria Legal Aid for more than a decade, and for most of those years was an associate public defender with the Criminal Law Division. After her appointment as a magistrate, her Honour was initially assigned to the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court where she served for almost two years. Her Honour was then assigned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, the Online Magistrates’ Court and is currently sitting at the Ringwood Court. Magistrate Stylianou was on the Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List and is a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Victorian Criminal Bar Association.
Magistrates' Court of Victoria
Magistrate Mia Stylianou
Prior to her appointment, Magistrate Stylianou was a barrister practising in criminal law, with particular expertise in jury trials involving sexual offences. Her Honour has defended and prosecuted extensively for more than 20 years. Prior to joining the Bar in 2007, Magistrate Stylianou worked for Victoria Legal Aid for more than a decade, and for most of those years was an associate public defender with the Criminal Law Division. After her appointment as a magistrate, her Honour was initially assigned to the Criminal Division of the Children’s Court where she served for almost two years. Her Honour was then assigned to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, the Online Magistrates’ Court and is currently sitting at the Ringwood Court. Magistrate Stylianou was on the Victoria Legal Aid Criminal Trial Preferred Barrister List and is a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences and the Victorian Criminal Bar Association.
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Nahrain Warda
Prior to her appointment, Magistrate Warda was a barrister specialising in criminal law, particularly sexual offences, and quasi-criminal law. Her Honour was previously a senior solicitor with the Office of Public Prosecutions and prior to that worked at defence criminal law firm Galbally & O’Bryan and Slades & Parsons. Magistrate Warda was admitted to practise in 2003 and signed the Bar Roll in 2010, practising law for more than 14 years. She was also previously a case manager in the Office of Corrections and has a deep appreciation of the difficulties facing disadvantaged people. Her Honour has worked in multiple law firms and was also acting principal solicitor at Western Suburbs Legal Services.
Magistrates’ Court of Victoria
Magistrate Nahrain Warda
Prior to her appointment, Magistrate Warda was a barrister specialising in criminal law, particularly sexual offences, and quasi-criminal law. Her Honour was previously a senior solicitor with the Office of Public Prosecutions and prior to that worked at defence criminal law firm Galbally & O’Bryan and Slades & Parsons. Magistrate Warda was admitted to practise in 2003 and signed the Bar Roll in 2010, practising law for more than 14 years. She was also previously a case manager in the Office of Corrections and has a deep appreciation of the difficulties facing disadvantaged people. Her Honour has worked in multiple law firms and was also acting principal solicitor at Western Suburbs Legal Services.
Judicial College of Victoria
Matthew Weatherson
Matthew Weatherson 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, Matt was awarded the AIJA Award for Excellence in Judicial Administration for his ground-breaking work on the College’s judicial precedent builders which have significantly streamlined the process of preparing jury directions.
Judicial College of Victoria
Matthew Weatherson
Matthew Weatherson 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, Matt was awarded the AIJA Award for Excellence in Judicial Administration for his ground-breaking work on the College’s judicial precedent builders which have significantly streamlined the process of preparing jury directions.