Rilak & Tsocas (No 2)

In *Rilak & Tsocas (No 2)*, the mother sought a stay of proceedings pending the determination of an appeal concerning the dismissal of her interlocutory applications for the recusal of the trial judge and a restraint on the father's legal representatives. The father's counsel argued that the appeal lacked substance and would only serve to delay the proceedings, which required urgent completion in the best interests of the child.

The primary legal issue before the court was whether to grant the mother's application for a stay of proceedings. This involved considering the potential for the appeal to be rendered nugatory by a refusal of the stay, and balancing this against the paramount consideration of the child's best interests, which necessitated an urgent hearing.

The court reasoned that a refusal of the stay would not render the appeal nugatory, and that the best interests of the child required the hearing to proceed urgently. Consequently, the mother's oral application for a stay of proceedings was refused. The court also dismissed the mother's amended application for recusal and disqualification, and made various orders concerning the filing of an appeal, the father's application for interim change of residence, and specific restraints on the mother regarding questioning the child and denigrating the father.