Hofstee Lawyers

13/09/2022

Federal Court of Australia – Public Holiday for National Day of Mourning on Thursday 22 September 2022

The Prime Minister’s media release of Sunday, 11 September 2022 advised that Thursday, 22 September 2022 will be a public holiday to commemorate Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The court will not be sitting next Thursday unless a matter cannot be rescheduled and is of such urgency or necessity that would require a sitting on a public holiday. Any decision to sit will be made by the docket judge or the judges of a Full Bench after consultation with the National Operations Registrar and the Chief Justice.

If a party has any doubt as to their matter, enquiries should be made of the docket judge or the National Operations Registrar. Duty judges and duty registrars will remain available for urgent applications.

03/08/2022

In its just-released report, ‘Without Fear or Favour: Judicial Impartiality and the Law on Bias’, the Australian Law Reform Commission has outlined 14 recommendations which, if adopted, will support impartial decision-making and help maintain the legitimacy of the federal judiciary in a changing world.

This article summarises the Inquiry’s context, some of the consultation views and data considered by the ALRC, and a number of the report’s key recommendations.

07/05/2022

The GCDLA Committee is very proud to present to you all, the settled program for the Gold Coast Legal Conference being held on 10 June 2022 at The Star Hotel and Casino, Broadbeach.

The GCDLA and QLS have worked hard on this program and we can proudly confirm we have secured Her Honour Chief Justice Bowskill QC as a key speaker and Queensland's Attorney General will open the event.

Justice Jarrett of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is amongst the action in the family law stream and we are proud to have leading practitioners and presenters who will ensure a high standard day of learning.

The QLS has created the following link to the event program and to reserve your place.

This is super-affordable event at $300 for 10 hrs of CPD and the opportunity to socialise after restrictions affected doing so.

The GCDLA Committee hopes to see you there!

https://www.qls.com.au/gold-coast-conference?utm_source=&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=gold+coast+legal+conference&utm_id=pr1970&utm_content=dla

27/02/2022

In light of ongoing rain and flooding in south-east Queensland, the Senior Judge Administrator has advised the decision has been made to adjourn all matters listed for hearing in the Supreme Court (including the Court of Appeal) and the District Court, from Maryborough down to Southport, on Monday 28 January 2022.

These matters will be adjourned to a date to be fixed. Please contact the relevant list manager, or the associate to the presiding judge, to obtain a revised date.

For any urgent matters on Monday, please contact the associate to Justice Sofronoff (for Court of Appeal), Justice Bowskill (for Supreme Court matters) or Judge Smith (for District Court matters).

The situation will be reviewed on Monday afternoon.
Supreme Court and District Court Registries will be open, with skeleton staff.

14/10/2021

Sexual Violence Awareness Month is a reminder for all Queenslanders that sexual violence is never acceptable. We all have a role to play in preventing this form of violence in our workplace and communities and ensuring the safety of all
Queenslanders.

Visit www.qld.gov.au/svamonth for more info about help and counselling available, how to report sexual violence, and how to support a victim.

Find out more about Sexual Violence Awareness Month, held in October each year.

12/08/2021

As of today, Queensland courts are open and hearing cases. ✅

⚖️ Masks must be worn in courthouses in South East Queensland and Cairns and Yarrabah LGAs.

⚖️ Masks must also be worn in other courthouses if you have been in South East Queensland or Cairns and Yarrabah Local Government Areas within the last 14 days.

For more COVID-19 resources for the legal profession head to:

Queensland Law Society believes in good law, good lawyers for the public good. Join today and be the first to know about changes in the law helping you to identify opportunities, manage risks and to provide better advice for your clients.

26/07/2021

Federal Attorney-General Senator Michaelia Cash has announced the appointment of respected Brisbane barrister Kylie Downes QC as a judge of the Federal Court in the Queensland Registry.

Ms Downes will take up the appointment on 2 August and has been appointed to the role following the recent retirement of Justice John Reeves.

Read the full story on Proctor.

Respected Brisbane barrister Kylie Downes QC has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Court in the Queensland Registry.

29/06/2021

It's ‘business as usual’ in South-East Queensland Magistrates Courts from today, with a few exceptions:

⚖️ Practitioners and all other courthouse entrants (in addition to staff) must wear a mask while moving about.

⚖️ It is a matter for the presiding magistrate or judge whether practitioners continue to wear their masks while seated at the bar table.

⚖️ Physical distancing will be monitored to ensure compliance with the one person per 4sqm rule.

⚖️ Cleaning regimes will include regular cleaning of high touch points and, where possible, sanitiser and wipes will continue to be provided.

Stay updated with the latest COVID-19 announcements for legal practitioners on Proctor:

Court Services Queensland has advised that it will be ‘business as usual’ in south-east Queensland Magistrates Courts from today, with a few exceptions: Practitioners and all other courthouse entrants (in...

23/06/2021

Queensland’s Chief Magistrate Judge Terry Gardiner has today revealed Magistrates Courts in Townsville, Sunshine and Gold Coast regions have already returned to normal operating levels, with the rest of the state expected to follow next month.

Read the full story on Proctor now.

Chief Magistrate Judge Terry Gardiner says Magistrate Courts backlogs caused by COVID-19 are being cleared.

08/06/2021

03/06/2021

Are you going through a separation?

Unfortunately, when a relationship ends it often carries baggage. Let us help you get what you are entitled to in your property settlement. We are here to give you advice and we will not mislead you with unrealistic expectations. We strive for fair outcomes and try to resolve disputes as quickly as possible so that you can start moving on and rebuilding.

Call us on 5526 3529.

05/05/2021

May is Domestic ad Family Violence (DFV) Prevention Month.

So what is 'coercive control'?

Senior Policy Solicitor Natalie De Campo, in conjunction with award-winning author and investigative journalist Jess Hill, to produce this eye-opening explanation of coercive control, what it is and how to identify it in a relationship.

Read the piece here:

How do perpetrators use control as a form of domestic abuse? QLS Legal Policy Solicitor Natalie De Campo discusses the techniques coercive controllers use to seize power. Adapted from Jess Hill's powerful book, See What You Made Me Do.