Queensland Law Society Media Release

Statement by the President of the Queensland Law Society, Mr Joe Pinder

It is deeply regrettable that The Courier Mail in its front page story today, “Meet Judge Go-Lightly” made such a personal and offensive attack on a respected member of the Queensland judiciary, Judge Ian Deardon of the District Court.

The Queensland Law Society accepts and understands that the media has a completely legitimate role making comment on decisions of the courts and that the media may take positions which are critical of those decisions. That is their right in a free and democratic society and we are the first to defend it.

However when that criticism descends into a tasteless personal denigration of a particular judicial officer then the boundary has been crossed between responsible criticism and mindless populism.

Judge Deardon made the decision he did in this matter having considered all of the evidence and all of the circumstances. It is one thing to disagree and even the Attorney-General has indicated an appeal could be considered but it is absolutely another thing to resort to disrespectful taunts.