Michael Anthony Griffin v Council of the Law Society of NSW

[2017] HCASL 69

MICHAEL ANTHONY GRIFFIN

v

COUNCIL OF THE LAW SOCIETY OF NSW

[2017] HCASL 69
S15/2017

1. The applicant seeks special leave to appeal from a decision of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Sackville AJA, Ward and Gleeson JJA agreeing) rejecting an appeal from a decision of the Civil and Administrative Tribunal of New South Wales that the applicant was guilty of professional misconduct and that he should be reprimanded and undergo and successfully complete a course in Legal Ethics.

2. The Court of Appeal were correct in holding that the imposition of disciplinary sanctions on a legal practitioner who improperly makes allegations that a judge has misconducted himself in a particular case does not burden the implied constitutional freedom of political communication.  None of the applicant's proposed grounds of appeal enjoys sufficient prospects of success to warrant a grant of special leave to appeal. 

3. Pursuant to r 41.08.1 of the High Court Rules 2004 (Cth), we direct the Registrar to draw up, sign and seal an order dismissing the application.

G.A.A. Nettle
30 March 2017 M.M. Gordon