19 October 2018
Practitioners will be pleased to see the end in sight for the Court rebuilding work, with the commencement of operation of the new courtrooms of the Supreme Court.
I attended the new Court’s first formal event on Monday – a ceremonial sitting to mark the imminent retirement of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, Jon White SC. In her farewell speech to Mr White, the Chief Justice described his style as clear, focussed and concise, saying that fine advocacy supports good judging. Mr White retires at the end of this year.
The ceremony was preceded by a traditional smoking ceremony in which eucalyptus leaves were burnt, and attendees were invited to walk through the smoke. The smoking ceremony wards off bad spirits, acknowledges ancestors and pays respect to the land and sea of country. I look forward to the day when the Australian Parliament, and through it, all Australian people, acknowledge and give their respect to all the first peoples and first nations of Australia.
As for me, coming from 40 years in a sole practitioner role, it is certainly different to be working in a team which represents around 2400 members, has ten full time staff, and 20 specialist committees. I can now operate the photocopier, the phone, the emails, the printer and the computers. I am also settling into the routine of the numerous meetings required of me.
Perhaps most importantly, I am finding the nearby places for a good coffee…
Chris Donohue President, ACT Law Society