Eroding judicial independence
The article Eroding judicial independence is written by Doogue + George Defence Lawyers.
Doogue + George are experts in criminal law and have been involved in thousands of criminal matters and defended clients in hundreds of jury trials and thousands of other criminal cases. Our experienced lawyers have unparalleled experience in criminal law.
The Constitution of Australia establishes three arms of Federal and State government:
- The Executive,
- The Legislature, and
- The Judiciary.
The three arms of government create a system of checks and balances which prevents one arm of government from holding all power – the ‘separation of powers’. However, Victoria recently enacted legislation which undermines this separation by allowing the Legislature to dictate how the Judiciary sentences offenders who have committed specific crimes.
In 2018, the Victorian Parliament enacted the Justice Legislation Miscellaneous Amendment Act 2018 (Vic) (‘the Act’). Sections 85-96 of this Act has removed Judges’ sentencing discretion by mandating that a person found guilty of any of the following crimes must receive a prison sentence:
- Causing serious injury intentionally;
- Causing serious injury recklessly;
- Causing injury intentionally or recklessly;
- Armed robbery;
- Home invasion;
- Aggravated home invasion;
- Carjacking;
- Aggravated carjacking;
- Intentionally exposing an emergency worker, a custodial officer or youth justice custodial worker to risk by driving;
- Culpable driving causing death;
- Dangerous driving causing death
— and the offence is committed in circumstances which place it in either ‘category 1’ or ‘category 2’ defined by the Act.
For example, a person found guilty of Armed Robbery must only receive a gaol sentence if any of the following circumstances apply:
- The offender had a firearm during the offence; or
- A victim has suffered an injury as a direct result of the offence; or
- The offence was committed by more than one offender.
An offender may rely on ‘substantial and compelling’ circumstances to satisfy the sentencing Judge that a custodial sentence is not justified. But, this is limited and the court cannot have regard to the offender’s:
- previous good character;
- early guilty plea;
- prospects of rehabilitation; or
- parity with other sentences.
Though, the Judge must have regard to:
- general deterrence;
- denunciation; and
- gravity of the offence.
To put it another way, the Judge is only permitted to hear and have regard to the aggravating features of the offence raised by the Prosecution, but counsel for the Defence is barred from making submissions about the offender’s mitigating features. This is wrong on many levels.
First, it denies an offender procedural fairness (the right to be heard in court) when asking the court to consider if substantial and compelling circumstances exist.
Secondly, it constricts the Judge’s autonomy in sentencing offenders by having regard to all of the circumstances of the offending.
Thirdly, it prohibits sentencing Judges’ discretion to tailor a sentence which promotes an offender’s rehabilitation. Mandatory prison sentences pre-suppose that prison is the only solution for all offenders. Sometimes it is of greater value to the community for an offender, especially young offenders, to receive a community correction order which include conditions that address the root of their offending such as drug rehabilitation, homelessness and other things factors which contributed to the crime.
Finally, these mandatory prison sentence provisions do not distinguish child offenders. This consequently contradicts the sentencing principles relevant to child offenders in the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic). This means that a 14-year old child who holds up a milk bar in company with a friend must receive a prison sentence. Is this a sensible approach?
We must trust our Judges’ ability to tap into their experience and sense of fairness to impose sentences which are just and equitable. After all, this is why they are appointed. Mandatory sentences might dissuade someone from wanting to better themselves before their plea hearing, such as finding employment, because they are going to receive a gaol sentence anyway.
Date Published: 26 September 2019