FRIDAY, APRIL 29, 1994
12
MINOR AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO LEGAL SYSTEM PROPOSED
THE
OF
ΤΟ PROVISIONS RELATING A NUMBER OF LEGISLATIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THAT WERE FOUND TO BE OBSOLETE, IN NEED
THE BILL OF MINOR CORRECTION OR IMPROVEMENT, OR INCONSISTENT WITH
OF JUSTICE RIGHTS WILL BE REPEALED OR AMENDED IF THE ADMINISTRATION (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1994 IS ENACTED.
ATTORNEY "MINOR,
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT SAID IN 1992 THE
WITH DEAL GENERAL PROPOSED
PREPARED TO THAT A BILL BE TECHNICAL AND NON-CONTROVERSIAL" AMENDMENTS RELATING SYSTEM.
TO THE LEGAL
ASSOCIATION, DEPARTMENTS LEADING ΤΟ THE
A GENERAL CIRCULAR WAS SENT TO THE JUDICIARY, BAR LAW SOCIETY, DIRECTOR OF LEGAL AID AND VARIOUS GOVERNMENT ΤΟ
SEEK PROPOSALS. MANY SUGGESTIONS WERE RECEIVED, PROPOSALS OUTLINED IN THE PROPOSED BILL.
THE
GAZETTED TODAY,
WILL
BE
THE
INTO INTRODUCED BILL, LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON MAY 11. IT PROPOSES THE ABOLITION OF ASSESSORS IN THE MAGISTRACY, MARINE MAGISTRATES, AND SPECIAL JURIES.
то ASSESSORS
SIT WITH THE SPOKESMAN SAID
FOR PROVISION
WAS MAGISTRATES HEARING CRIMINAL CASES WAS INTRODUCED IN 1978, WHICH
BE APPOINTED то INTENDED AS A MEASURE WHEREBY LOCAL PERSONS COULD ASSIST NEWLY APPOINTED EXPATRIATE MAGISTRATES.
BUT THE EXPERIMENT WAS NOT A GREAT SUCCESS, HE SAID.
A CRIMINAL THE LAST OCCASION UPON WHICH AN ASSESSOR SAT UPON TRIAL WAS IN MARCH 1988. MOREOVER, THE NUMBER OF LOCAL MAGISTRATES HAD INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN RECENT YEARS, THUS DIMINISHING THE NEED FOR ASSESSORS,
BE
PROVISIONS FOR THE REPEALED,"
THE CIRCUMSTANCES, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT
TRIALS IN THE MAGISTRACY CRIMINAL
"IN
ASSESSORS IN SPOKESMAN SAID.
SIMILARLY, HE SAID THERE WAS NO RECORD IN THE LAST THAT A MARINE MAGISTRATE HAD EXERCISED JURISDICTION.
20 YEARS
"AS THE INSTITUTION NO LONGER FULFILS ANY USEFUL PURPOSE, IT IS
THE SPOKESMAN SAID, RECOMMENDED THAT IT BE ABOLISHED,
PARTICULAR
AS REGARDS SPECIAL JURIES COMPRISING PERSONS WITH A SKILL, EXPERIENCE OR STANDING IN THE COMMUNITY, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LAST OCCASION THAT A SPECIAL JURY WAS SUMMONED WAS FOR INQUEST IN 1984.
A CORONER'S
**
IT
IS
AND
CONSIDERED
SHOULD
THE THAT BE ABOLISHED,
SPECIAL
HE
JURY
SAID,
AND ELITIST
THAT THE
IS ADDING
UNNECESSARY, INSTITUTION HAD ALREADY BEEN ABOLISHED IN ENGLAND AND AUSTRALIA.
CARGO
UNDER EXISTING PROVISIONS, TALLYCLERKS (THOSE WHO TALLY
AND MARINE IN AND OUT OF SHIPS), AUCTIONEERS, MARINE STORES DEALERS HAWKERS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN LICENCES TO CARRY ON THEIR TRADES.
/THE BILL