The Office of Public Prosecutions acknowledges the decision of Magistrate Guillaume Bailin not to commit Mr William Swale for trial over the tragic crash in Daylesford last year. As is the usual course, His Honour’s decision will be carefully reviewed in accordance with Prosecution Guidelines with a view to considering...
Judicial Appointment of Kerri Judd KC
It is with great pleasure that the Office of Public Prosecutions celebrates the appointment of its outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Elizabeth Judd KC, as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The appointment marks a fitting conclusion to the Hon. Justice Judd’s eight-year tenure with the Office...
Appointment of Brendan Kissane KC to DPP
The Office of Public Prosecutions is delighted to announce the appointment of Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane KC as Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Kissane, who boasts over 40 years’ legal experience as solicitor (1980-85), counsel (1985 onwards) and senior counsel (2014 onwards), is one of the Australia’s most respected...
Appointment of Diana Piekusis KC to Chief Crown Prosecutor
The Office of Public Prosecutions sincerely congratulates Diana Inara Piekusis KC on her historic elevation to the office of Chief Crown Prosecutor. Ms Piekusis, who is the first woman in Victoria to be appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor, has long been one of the state’s foremost prosecutors, having regularly appeared in...
Neill Hutton and the OPP’s Justin Lewis appointed senior counsel
The Office of Public Prosecutions sincerely congratulates Senior Crown Prosecutor Justin Lewis and former Crown Prosecutor Neill Hutton on their appointment to senior counsel. Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd KC and Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane KC said the appointments reflect the exceptional contribution both Mr Lewis and Mr...
Update on Court Services Victoria Cyber Security Incident
On 18 January 2024, Court Services Victoria (CSV) published an update about the cyber security incident. CSV advised that while the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, they can confirm that recordings of some hearings in the Supreme Court, County Court and Coroners Court on the audio-visual system were prior...
Court Services Victoria Cyber Security Incident
On 2 January 2024, Court Services Victoria made this public statement about a cyber security incident involving unauthorised access to the courts' audio visual in-court technology system. This means that video and audio recordings of some hearings in courts between 1 November 2023 and 21 December 2023 may have been...
DPP congratulates new Court of Appeal , Crown Prosecutor appointees
Senior Crown Prosecutor Chris Boyce KC has today been appointed as a Judge of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd KC, Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane KC, and the OPP congratulate Mr Boyce on his appointment. The DPP, the CCP and the OPP...
DPP response to conflict of interest
In relation to recent allegations aired in the media on 26 July 2023, the assertions are factually incorrect. The DPP did not have a conflict of interest as asserted. The DPP has never acted for Simon Overland in any personal capacity and has in fact never met him. Recent media...
OPP Crown Prosecutor Robyn Harper appointed County Court Judge
Victorian Government Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes has appointed Robyn Harper as Judge of the County Court of Victoria. Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd KC congratulated Ms Harper on her appointment and thanked for her service to Chambers where she will be greatly missed. “Robyn has made a tremendous contribution to Crown...