Proportionality in Sentencing by Dominic Brunello

Proportionality in Sentencing   In the ever-changing field of criminal sentencing, it is…


Joinder by Ella Scoles

It has long been the case in criminal law that only one criminal charge ought to be contained on an…


Licence disqualification after certain offences: when will I receive cumulative disqualification periods? by Rachna Nagesh

Licence disqualification after certain offences: when will I receive cumulative disqualification…


FIREARM PROHIBITION ORDER by Terry O'Gorman

FIREARM PROHIBITION ORDER   If you have a legitimate need for access to firearms including if…


Sentencing young adults by Rachna Nagesh

Sentencing young adults   The present positions of the Queensland Government and Opposition…


DOUBLE JEOPARDY IN JEOPARDY by Dominic Brunello

DOUBLE JEOPARDY IN JEOPARDY – CRIMINAL CODE AND OTHER LEGISLATION (DOUBLE JEOPARDY EXCEPTION AND…


Alternative Reporting Options by Hannah Pugh

Alternative Reporting Options   The Queensland Police Service introduced ‘Alternative Reporting…


Cross Applications in DV Proceedings – A Changing Landscape by Dan Rogers

Cross Applications in DV Proceedings – A Changing Landscape   In Queensland a respondent to an…


I have been charged with a Criminal Offence and hold a positive notice Blue Card: What Do I Do Now? by Emma Higgins

I have been charged with a Criminal Offence and hold a positive notice Blue Card: What Do I Do Now?…


Evidence of Domestic Relationships and Domestic Violence - Impact on criminal proceedings by Emma Higgins

Evidence of Domestic Relationships and Domestic Violence - Impact on criminal proceedings   …


How Domestic Violence Protection Order Proceedings Could Impact Your Working With Children Check? by Emma Higgins

How Domestic Violence Protection Order Proceedings Could Impact Your Working With Children Check?…


Publication of identity of defendants to certain sexual offences no longer prohibited by Rachna Nagesh

Publication of identity of defendants to certain sexual offences no longer prohibited.   The…


Parole and show cause notices by Rachna Nagesh

Parole and show cause notices   In Queensland, the authority that makes decisions regarding…


Overview of changes to the Domestic Violence Act by Hannah Pugh

Overview   On 1 August 2023 the Domestic and Family Violence Protection (Combating Coercive…


Navigating the Prohibition on Publication: Section 159 of the Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012 by Emma Higgins

Navigating the Prohibition on Publication: Section 159 of the Domestic and Family Violence…


Reportable Offender Legislation in Queensland by Hannah Pugh

Reportable Offender Legislation in Queensland   Overview   In Australia, persons convicted…


Media Release - Criminal Cases Review Commission by Terry O'Gorman

The Folbigg Pardon highlights the necessity to establish a national Criminal Cases Review…


Blog - New Queensland Domestic Violence Laws introduced 14 October 2022

NEW QUEENSLAND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE LAWS INTRODUCED FRIDAY 14 OCTOBER 2022   New domestic…


Blog 2 - Women’s Safety & Justice Taskforce Report

This is article two in a series of articles dealing with the July 2022 report of the Women’s Safety…


Blog 1 - Women’s Safety & Justice Taskforce Report

In July of this year the Women’s Safety & Justice Taskforce released its report dealing with…


Commemoration of abolition of death penalty Queensland 1922-2022.

Closing remarks by Terry O’Gorman   On Monday, 1 August 2022 an important seminar was held in…


The Legal Profession Act 2007 - appropriate course of action for a show cause notice by Ella Scoles

The Legal Profession Act 2007 (Qld) (‘the Act’) creates various eligibility requirements and…


Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s review of the SVO Scheme by Dan Rogers

Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council’s review of the SVO Scheme   Earlier this month, the…


Attorney General inquiry into money-laundering by The Star Entertainment Group. by Dan Rogers & Emma Higgins

This week the Queensland Attorney-General confirmed that the government will launch an inquiry into…


Evasion Offences by Hannah Pugh

Evasion Offence: Sentencing Inconsistencies Resolved   Failing to stop a vehicle at the direction…


Whiskey Au Go Go Inquest - verballing allegations against police by Terry O'Gorman

Evidence given by a former Queensland Homicide Detective at this week’s Whiskey Au Go Go bombing…


QLS’s The Callover: Mistakes and Professional Development by Dan Rogers

Dan Rogers on QLS’s The Callover: Mistakes and Professional Development   Earlier this month I…


Children's Detention by Terry O'Gorman

Two Mt Isa Childrens Court cases that have been published on the Queensland Courts website recently…


The important role of a plea of guilty by Emma Higgins

A plea of guilty is an acceptance of guilt to the offences charged. It is a choice made by the…


Legislating against coercive control: The Hear Her Voice Report

Legislating against coercive control: The Hear Her Voice Report   Previous instalments of this…


Restricted prisoner declarations – a flagrant breach of human rights by Dan Rogers

Restricted prisoner declarations – a flagrant breach of human rights Queensland Law Society wrote a…


Child murderers and serial killers could be denied parole for decades under new Queensland laws

Child murderers and serial killers could be denied parole for decades under new Queensland laws…


Senior Consultant, Terry O'Gorman awarded the Law Council of Australia President's Award

Senior Consultant Terry O'Gorman has been awarded the Law Council of Australia President's Award. A…


Part 3: Appeals Process in Queensland - Should Queensland adopt a second right of appeal? by Ella Scoles

Part 3: Appeals Process in Queensland - Should Queensland adopt a second right of appeal? by Ella…


Part 2: Appeals Process in Queensland - Other jurisdictions and judicial interpretation by Ella Scoles

Part 2: Appeals Process in Queensland - Other jurisdictions and judicial interpretation Our first…


Dismissal of Charges Based on Unsoundness of Mind or Unfitness for Trial by Linda Cho

Dismissal of Charges Based on Unsoundness of Mind or Unfitness for Trial Magistrates have the power…


Part 1: Appeals Process in Queensland - Introduction, History and Queensland Process by Ella Scoles

Part 1 of a 3 part series explores the Appeals Process in Queensland.  In this blog, we look at the…


Who is “the occupier” of a vehicle under section 129(1)(c) Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld)? by Hannah Pugh

Who is “the occupier” of a vehicle under section 129(1)(c) Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (Qld)? “The…


Proposed changes to Blue Card laws: Are they necessary? by Remy Kurz

Proposed changes to Blue Card laws: Are they necessary? I have previously written about endemic…


PPRA and Non-Recording of Evidence - R v Jeffers and Morcom by Ella Scoles

INTRODUCTION The Supreme Court of Queensland recently published an interesting pre-trial ruling in…


Restorative Justice Series – Part 3. Restorative Justice Processes

Restorative Justice Series – Part 3. Restorative Justice Processes The previous instalment in this…


The Sovereign Citizen Dilemma by Ella Scoles

Solicitor Ella Scoles writes about the Sovereign Citizen Dilemma in this QLS Proctor article: The…


Restorative Justice Series – Part 2. Juvenile Sentencing Principles

Restorative Justice Series – Part 2. Juvenile Sentencing Principles The first instalment in this…


Restorative Justice Series - Part 1. The Context: Youth Justice and the "Youth Crime Crisis"

Restorative justice series – The Context: Youth Justice and the ‘Youth Crime Crisis’  The…


Robertson O’Gorman Principal recognised nationally in 2021 Doyle’s List for White Collar and Corporate Crime Professionals and Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers

Robertson O’Gorman Principal recognised nationally in 2021 Doyle’s List for White Collar and…


Legislating against covercive control: Scotland's Domestic Abuse Act

Legislating against coercive control: Scotland’s Domestic Abuse Act  The first instalment in this…


Criminal Lawyers Beware! – Cellebrite downloads can be compromised

Criminal Lawyers Beware! – Cellebrite downloads can be compromised Cellebrite downloads of mobile…


Review into Accuracy and Reliability of Forensic Evidence Shelved

Review into Accuracy and Reliability of Forensic Evidence Shelved A national review into the…


Cross Applications in Domestic Violence proceedings: Let cooler heads prevail by Remy Kurz

Cross Applications in Domestic Violence proceedings: Let cooler heads prevail The Domestic and…


An analysis of the Bill Cosby decision by Ella Scoles

Yesterday the world learnt that Bill Cosby’s conviction for three counts of aggravated indecent…


To record or not to record – is there a question?

Should the ODPP electronically record proofing conferences with prosecution witnesses? The ruling…


EXTRA TEN YEARS

The Queensland Government’s announcement on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 that child killers and people…


LEGALWISE PRESENTATION ON AML

Our Principal, Dan Rogers, is an expert in money laundering. Today he drew upon this expertise and…


Robertson O'Gorman encourages emerging leaders - Robertson O'Gorman Prize in Criminal Law 2020

Robertson O’Gorman is a proud sponsor of the University of Queensland Law School. Each year the law…


QLS Proctor article on Terry O’Gorman AM: President’s Medal recognises a leader in criminal defence and civil liberties

John Teerds, Editor,  writes about a highlight of last week’s Legal Profession Dinner being the…


Terry O’Gorman AM awarded QLS President’s Medal

Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors are delighted to announce, Senior Consultant, Terry O’Gorman has been…


An independent inquiry into historical rape allegations: balancing accountability and the presumption of innocence

An independent inquiry into historical rape allegations: balancing accountability and the…


JUDGE FOR YOURSELF (TRAFFICKING CHARGE)

On 15 February 2021 our Principal, Dan Rogers, lead a ‘Judge for Yourself’ session at Calamvale,…


HIGHLIGHT: Frequently Asked Question - I have to go to Court, what's going to happen?

Dan Rogers is the Principal and Legal Director at Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors. He is an…


Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors, leading criminal defence firm is pleased to welcome Linda Cho to the team!

Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors, leading criminal defence law firm is pleased to welcome Linda Cho to…


Investigation of war crimes and the recommendations of the Inspector-General of the ADF

Investigation of war crimes and the recommendations of the Inspector-General of the ADF The…


ASIC Investigations and Sentencing Outcomes

ASIC administers a number of different pieces of legislation. Where conduct is generally alleged…

Robertson O'Gorman Solicitors striving for Excellence - Emma Higgins recognised in the 2020 Queensland Criminal Law Rising Star Rankings

Last week, Robertson O’Gorman was again recognised as a ‘First Tier Criminal Defence Firm’.…


Robertson O’Gorman Principal recognised in national Doyle’s List for White Collar and Corporate Crime Professionals and Criminal Defence Lawyers

Robertson O’Gorman Principal recognised in national Doyle’s List for White Collar and Corporate…


Legal Wise Seminar - Criminal Law: Hot Topics

Our Principal and Legal Director, Dan Rogers presented today at the Legal Wise Seminar - Criminal…


PROPOSED MEDIA SHIELD LAWS

The Queensland Government and Opposition have jointly committed to develop shield law that protect…


Doyle's Guide 2020 Results - Robertson O'Gorman recognised again as a First Tier Queensland Criminal Defence Firm

We are pleased to announce for the sixth straight year, Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors has been…


How to run a bail hearing in a COVID-19 world

Today our Principal, Dan Rogers presented a Queensland Law Society On-Demand Video about how to run…


Pell: High Court finds complainant’s reliability and the existence of reasonable doubt are far from mutually exclusive

A good friend who isn’t a lawyer messaged me in the wake of the Pell decision and asked for my…


CORONAVIRUS, THE LAW AND COMPLIANCE WITH SELF-ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE RULES

CORONAVIRUS, THE LAW AND COMPLIANCE WITH SELF-ISOLATION AND QUARATINE RULES We are all well aware…


Corporate surveillance and Facebook

Following a report in the Daily Mail (Australia) in late December 2019 that Facebook is watching…


Human Rights Act Series - Part 5 - Case Example: Police powers and exclusion of evidence – R v Shaheed [2002] NZLR 377

Case Example: Police powers and exclusion of evidence – R v Shaheed [2002] NZLR 377 This is the…


Human Rights Act - Part 2: Case example: Unreasonable delay – R v Mills

This is the second blog in our Human Rights Act series, looking at the decision of the ACT Supreme…


The Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) for criminal cases in Queensland

On Monday 4 November 2019, Robertson O’Gorman and the College of Law hosted Scott McDougall (Human…


Police Discipline Reforms

The Police Discipline Reforms which have just passed the Queensland Parliament deal with justified…


Forensic science in criminal cases

In the Sydney Morning Herald of 2 September 2019 Justice Chris Maxwell, President of the Victorian…


Blue Card laws: Is ‘exceptional’ the new normal?

In Queensland those who wish to work with, or foster, children must have a Blue Card. A Blue Card…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) - What remedies are available?

A human rights complaint or action may be brought for a breach of section 58(1) of the Human Rights…


Queensland Human Rights Commission

The Queensland Human Rights Commission, created by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), will commence…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) – Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Assembly

These rights are closely related as they both provide for a person’s personal liberty of thought,…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) – Criminal Proceedings

Section 32 of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) details the rights of a defendant subject to criminal…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld): Humane treatment when deprived of liberty

The Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) establishes in domestic legislation the right of people deprived of…


Review of Queensland’s laws relating to civil surveillance

The Queensland Law Reform Commission currently has a Reference titled “Review of Queensland’s laws…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld): Right to a Fair Hearing

The right to a fair hearing is now enshrined in Queensland domestic legislation under the Human…


QUEENSLAND PRISONS

In December 2018, the Crime and Corruption Commission released its report named Taskforce Flaxton…


Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) passed for Queensland

After decades of campaigning, the Queensland Parliament passed the historic Human Rights Act on 27…


Media Release – Terry O’Gorman, President of ACCL

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is again engaging in overblown rhetoric in calling for an…


Media Release – Terry O’Gorman, Vice-President of QCCL

A threat by Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers that pill testers “will be charged too”…


Courier Mail Article - Jail Inspectorate Must Be Independent, Says Top Civil Liberties Lawyer Terry O’Gorman

The Courier Mail has published an article regarding the establishment of an independent…


Letter to The Honourable Mark Ryan MP - Terry O’Gorman, Vice-President of QCCL

Dear Minister RE:      SEXUAL OFFENDER REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES I refer to the judgment of…


Media Release – Terry O’Gorman, Vice-President of QCCL

Today’s Courier Mail report that prison staff are copping the brunt of anger over crowded jail…


Media Release – Terry O’Gorman, Vice-President of QCCL

The Prime Minister’s proposal to take a religious discrimination Act to the next Federal election…


Media Release – Terry O’Gorman, Vice-President of QCCL

The Civil Liberties Council today called on Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan to immediately…


The Teacher’s Pet: Do viral podcasts have the ability to taint a jury pool?

I, like many thousands of others, have recently been immersed in the Australian’s podcast series…


MEDIA RELEASE TERRY O'GORMAN VICE-PRESIDENT QUEENSLAND COUNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

Former Premier Campbell Newman’s comment that ex Chief Justice Carmody would have handed down a…


MEDIA RELEASE BY TERRY O’GORMAN VICE-PRESIDENT, QUEENSLAND COUNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

While the Attorney‑General is deciding whether to appeal Monday’s Supreme Court judgment that sex…


MEDIA RELEASE BY TERRY O’GORMAN VICE-PRESIDENT, QUEENSLAND COUNCIL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

The Civil Liberties Council has called on the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to immediately reverse…


Robertson O’Gorman lawyers recognised as Leading Lawyers across Australia

The 2018 Doyles Guide has recognised lawyers Terry O’Gorman and Dan Rogers among Australia’s…