Contempt of court – Family Court of Australia – Scandalising the court – Source of power to punish – Whether such offence must be prosecuted upon indictment.
Constitutional law – Contempt of court – Trial by jury – Whether indictable offence – Whether an offence against a law of the Commonwealth.
Courts and judges – Bias – Reasonable apprehension – Family Court of Australia – Speech by Chief Justice responding to criticisms of Court – Independence of members of the judiciary – Whether conduct or opinions of Chief Justice gives rise to a reasonable apprehension of bias on the part of trial judge.
Words and phrases – "law of the Commonwealth".
The Constitution, Ch III, ss 71, 80.
Family Law Act 1975 (Cth), ss 21, 21B, 35, 112AP.
Family Law Rules (Cth), O 35.
Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 24.