Tasmania’s Attorney-General is expected to issue a statement about the future of a Supreme Court Justice who is facing charges of assault and emotional abuse.
Gregory Geason, who has been on leave since early November, appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on Friday shortly after being charged and pleased not guilty to both offences.
Minister for Corrections Madeleine Ogilvie confirmed on Monday that Attorney-General Guy Barnett is currently evaluating Geason’s future as a judge.
It is understood that one possible option being considered includes recalling Parliament, as the dismissal of a judge requires a motion passed by both houses.
“We’ve had a conversation about this in Cabinet today and the Attorney-General would have more to say in coming days … The Attorney-General is considering this deeply,” Ogilvie said.
Ogilvie also expressed disappointment that the media were denied access to the courtroom.
“I think that the court has been clear, they’ve apologised, that a decision was made that was not the right one and I hope that that probably wouldn’t occur again.”
“Justice has to be seen to be done as well as done and this is important.”
‘What I can say is we have a commitment to open justice as a government, it’s important and we uphold it.”
Labor has requested an out-of-state judge or magistrate oversee the case when it returns to court as a ‘guarantee that there will be no conflict of interest at any level’.
Court apologises for excluding media from Judge Gregory Geason’s session
Tasmanian Supreme Court judge Gregory Geason charged with assault, emotional abuse
