DT v Chief Executive of the Department for Child Protection

This matter concerned an application for leave to appeal to the Court of Appeal of South Australia against a Supreme Court Judge's dismissal of an appeal from a Magistrate's decision. The applicant also appealed against the Judge's order striking out an application made under the *Guardianship of Infants Act 1940* (SA). The respondent was the Chief Executive of the Department for Child Protection.

The legal issues before the Court of Appeal included whether the Supreme Court Judge erred in rejecting contentions of actual and ostensible bias against the Magistrate, and whether the Judge's approach to the appeal was fair and just. The Court was also required to consider the appeal against the order striking out the application made under the *Guardianship of Infants Act 1940* (SA).

The Court of Appeal found that the Supreme Court Judge had correctly rejected all contentions concerning actual and ostensible bias, as well as the Magistrate's direction. The Judge's approach was considered fair and just, and therefore the application for leave to appeal the dismissal of the appeal from the Magistrate's decision was dismissed. The appeal against the Judge's order striking out the application made pursuant to the *Guardianship of Infants Act 1940* (SA) was also dismissed. The Court granted leave to file amended appeal grounds and made orders for suppression of identifying information concerning the child and parents.