Shelton v National Roads and Motorists Association Ltd

[2004] FCA 977

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Shelton v National Roads and Motorists Association Ltd [2004] FCA 977

COURTS AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM - Application for disqualification of judge - Apprehension of bias - Disqualification of judge not to be based on speculative suggestion or mere possibility - No basis for submission - Judge viewing materials from proceedings which the present parties may not access - No basis for disqualification - Application dismissed.

Livesy v New South Wales Bar Association (1983) 151 CLR 288 discussed
Johnson v Johnson (2000) 174 ALR 655 discussed
Bienstein v Beinstein (2003) 195 ALR 225 discussed
Miller v University of New South Wales (No 2) [2001] FCA 1198 discussed
Re JRL; Ex parte CJL (1986) 161 CLR 342 discussed

TIMOTHY JOHN SHELTON v
NATIONAL ROADS AND MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED AND ORS

N35 OF 2004

TAMBERLIN J
SYDNEY
27 JULY 2004

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY	N35 OF 2004

BETWEEN:

TIMOTHY JOHN SHELTON
APPLICANT

AND:

NATIONAL ROADS AND MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED
ACN 000 010 156
FIRST RESPONDENT

ROSS VINCENT TURNBULL
SECOND RESPONDENT

ALAN HANSON EVANS
THIRD RESPONDENT

GRAHAM JOHN BLIGHT
FOURTH RESPONDENT

DAVID GORDON CADELL BROWNHILL
FIFTH RESPONDENT

JONATHAN KEITH BRETT
SIXTH RESPONDENT

JOHN RICHARD EDWARDS
SEVENTH RESPONDENT

KENNETH MICHAEL HILL
EIGHTH RESPONDENT

JUDITH OLGA STACK
NINTH RESPONDENT

LAURENCE JOSEPH MAHER
TENTH RESPONDENT

GEOFFREY ROBERT TOOVEY
ELEVENTH RESPONDENT

ALIX LOUISE SAUVAGE
TWELFTH RESPONDENT

MICHAEL THOMAS TYNAN
THIRTEENTH RESPONDENT

VICTOR JOHN SMITH
FOURTEENTH RESPONDENT

MARK EDWARD WAUGH
FIFTEENTH RESPONDENT

JUDGE:

TAMBERLIN J

DATE OF ORDER:

27 JULY 2004

WHERE MADE:

SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

The application for disqualification is dismissed with costs.

Note:    Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY	N35 OF 2004

BETWEEN:

TIMOTHY JOHN SHELTON
APPLICANT

AND:

NATIONAL ROADS AND MOTORISTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED
ACN 000 010 156
FIRST RESPONDENT

ROSS VINCENT TURNBULL
SECOND RESPONDENT

ALAN HANSON EVANS
THIRD RESPONDENT

GRAHAM JOHN BLIGHT
FOURTH RESPONDENT

DAVID GORDON CADELL BROWNHILL
FIFTH RESPONDENT

JONATHAN KEITH BRETT
SIXTH RESPONDENT

JOHN RICHARD EDWARDS
SEVENTH RESPONDENT

KENNETH MICHAEL HILL
EIGHTH RESPONDENT

JUDITH OLGA STACK
NINTH RESPONDENT

LAURENCE JOSEPH MAHER
TENTH RESPONDENT

GEOFFREY ROBERT TOOVEY
ELEVENTH RESPONDENT

ALIX LOUISE SAUVAGE
TWELFTH RESPONDENT

MICHAEL THOMAS TYNAN
THIRTEENTH RESPONDENT

VICTOR JOHN SMITH
FOURTEENTH RESPONDENT

MARK EDWARD WAUGH
FIFTEENTH RESPONDENT

JUDGE:	TAMBERLIN J
DATE:	27 JULY 2004
PLACE:	SYDNEY

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT

1. This is an urgent application brought on behalf of the applicant yesterday afternoon seeking an order that I disqualify myself from hearing further proceedings in this matter.  The application is based on two grounds. 

   APPREHENSION OF BIAS - MR AND MRS KELLY

2. One submission by Mr Camilleri, counsel for the applicant, in substance is as follows:

   ·    the legal community is in Sydney is a close group;

   ·    Mr Vincent Kelly is a solicitor known to many practitioners;

   ·    Mr Kelly’s firm over many years acted for the National Roads and Motorists’ Association (“NRMA”);

   ·    I may know Mr Kelly,…