Collins and Ricardo (No 2)

In *Collins and Ricardo (No 2)*, the father sought to disqualify Watts J from hearing proceedings concerning his children. The dispute involved applications relating to the welfare and upbringing of the children.

The central legal issue before the court was whether there were grounds to disqualify Watts J from continuing to preside over the matter. This required an assessment of whether the judge's impartiality could reasonably be apprehended by a fair-minded lay observer.

Watts J considered the father's application for disqualification. His Honour concluded that there was no reasonable apprehension of bias and therefore dismissed the father's oral application. The judge granted leave for the father to make the oral application, but ultimately found no merit in the grounds raised.