Court documents outlining the allegations against Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice Gregory Geason, including accusations of “verbal abuse” and “striking”, tracking a person “using technology” and “pressuring a person” to sign a contract, have been released.
Justice Geason pleaded not guilty to one charge of emotional abuse and one charge of common assault when he appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday.
According to the ABC, the specific details of the charges reveal that Justice Geason is alleged to have “subjected a person to verbal abuse … persistent yelling and screaming” and he is accused of “exhibiting jealousy, rage, anger and aggression” between April and November this year.
He is also accused of “tracking a person’s movements using technology”, “coercing them into establishing a shared phone account to gain access to their electronic records” and “scrutinising their electronic devices and reviewing messages, including deleted messages”.
It is also alleged he “demanded they contribute $300,000 equity from their own home” and “pressured them to sign the contract of sale on a home” in the Hobart area.
The assault charge stems from an alleged incident on October 31, during which Justice Geason is accused of “grabbing the person by the arms and squeezing, shaking them and striking their chest”.
“The Government has requested that the Governor recall Parliament … to consider a Bill to establish a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry …. as to whether Justice Geason should, or should not, be suspended or removed from the office of Judge,” the Attorney-General said.
Under the Supreme Court Act 1857, a judge can only be suspended or removed from office by the governor with the approval of both houses of parliament.
Justice Geason was granted bail and will reappear in the Hobart Magistrates Court on February 6.
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