An interstate magistrate will be flown in to deal with a Tasmanian Supreme Court judge accused of common assault, emotional abuse and intimidation, a court has been told.
Justice Gregory Geason made his second appearance in the Hobart Magistrates Court over the phone on Tuesday, as he was ‘too unwell’ to appear in person.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly confirmed that Tasmanian magistrates would be unable to handle the case due to their personal or professional relationships with Geason, as reported by the ABC.
“Given the nature of the proceedings and the defendant’s status as a judge, it’s of primary importance that the conduct of the proceedings must be seen to maintain and enhance public confidence of impartiality of the court,” he said.
Justice Geason has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him and is scheduled to reappear in court at the end of April.
The Supreme Court judge took a leave of absence in November and was subsequently arrested on December 1, being granted bail later that evening during an out-of-hours session.
Details of the charges against Justice Geason include allegations of tracking someone’s movements, coercing them into sharing a phone account, and subjecting them to verbal abuse, jealousy and aggression.
In late January, it was revealed that Geason had also been charged with criminal offences in New South Wales after allegedly breaching an apprehended domestic violence.
