Queensland Law Society media release
Statement by the president of the Queensland Law Society, Mrs Megan Mahon
| date |
12 Dec 2007 |
| contact |
Russell Grenning - Principal Advisor Public Relations |
| telephone |
07 3842 5975 or 0414 882 964 |
| fax |
07 3221 9329 |
| email |
media@qls.com.au |
Personal attacks on any member of the judiciary are utterly intolerable and should be rejected completely. The independence of the judiciary is and must remain paramount as one of the fundamental tenets of our justice system.
It is not for the Queensland Law Society to condone or condemn the outcome of the matter heard before District Court Judge Sarah Bradley in Cairns in 2005 or any other decisions by our Courts for that matter.
In fact, it is wholly inappropriate for anybody, including the media, to make moral and other judgements based on what could very well be incomplete or out-of-context information.
The Attorney-General, Mr Kerry Shine, has indicated that an appeal has been filed against the decision by the Cairns court and it will be a matter for the Court of Appeal to determine.
Neither the media nor any community group – however sincere and well-meaning their motives might be in this matter - should try and supplant the due process of our justice system which is a robust one with inbuilt checks and balances.
It is time for calm and nothing is to be achieved by any ill-considered and possibly ill-informed comment on this matter.
