Category Archives: CCRC

Is Australia fair dinkum about wrongful convictions?

Posted on March 13, 2022 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban Wrongful convictions in Australia are either a) uniquely infrequent or b) largely left undisturbed, according to a briefing paper by Flinders University legal academic Dr Bob Moles, examining the effect of the recently introduced new right of … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 23 Comments

Separation of powers – the downside

Posted on February 26, 2022 by andrew

The ancient proverb, ‘Physician, heal thyself,’ can be repurposed to our criminal justice system, argues ANDREW L. URBAN. The separation of powers should not be a barrier to much needed reforms, but politicians are as cowardly on the subject as … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, Forensic evidence, General articles | 27 Comments

High Court decisions could & should trigger reforms

Posted on February 24, 2022 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban.  If successful, will upcoming High Court appeals prompt reform, including a much needed Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) – as they should? 

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 6 Comments

Canadian Commission delivers report to establish MoJ Commission

Posted on December 14, 2021 by andrew

Far reaching recommendations that go well beyond anything so far established in other countries are contained in the report by the Canadian Commission advising the government on the establishment of a Criminal Cases Review Commission, including that the new body … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 4 Comments

If our criminal justice system were an airline it would be grounded

Posted on December 3, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban The latest forensic disaster, in which one of Australia’s most respected forensic scientists, Kirsty Wright, laid out the serious errors and problems in the ­Queensland government-run laboratory’s handling of forensic evidence in the murder of Shandee Blackburn, … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 6 Comments

Justice may depend on where you live

Posted on August 4, 2021 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. If you’ve been wrongfully convicted, just hope you’re living in a jurisdiction with well developed correcting functions in the legal system. Differing legal mechanisms in different places produce uneven outcomes. And while Australia has yet to even … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 6 Comments

Fool proofing the Attorney General

Posted on July 23, 2021 by andrew

The Attorney General’s Transparency Branch has a fool proof tactic, straight out of Yes, Minister, to shut down anything it doesn’t want to address. 

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 14 Comments

A sealed envelope, a secret instruction? Or just indifference?

Posted on July 7, 2021 by andrew

A sealed envelope on the desk of every incoming Federal Attorney-General contains a short, unsigned, cryptic instruction: “Avoid CCRC”. How do we know this? It’s elementary, my dear Whatsyourname; it’s like this … ANDREW L. URBAN tells a tale you … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 11 Comments

We urge the AG to consider a national CCRC

Posted on June 10, 2021 by andrew

In the following letter, wrongfulconvictionsreport – with the support of several senior figures in the legal community – urges the Attorney General to consider establishing a Criminal Cases Review Commission, arguing valid reasons and outlining a practical formula. We hope … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 14 Comments

Victoria’s Court of Appeal – too many judgements overturned, bring on a CCRC

Posted on July 23, 2020 by andrew

Andrew L. Urban. Over the past 14 years under Justice Chris Maxwell’s reign as its president, 18 of the judgements of Victoria’s Court of Appeal have been overturned by the High Court, while in the previous decade, 10 of its … Continue reading →

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 7 Comments