Criminal Practice and Procedure NSW

"Criminal Practice and Procedure NSW" is a comprehensive legal resource authored by the Hon Roderick Howie KC and the Hon Peter Johnson, both former judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Here is a detailed overview of the book:

Key Themes

1. Criminal Procedure:

   • The book extensively covers various aspects of criminal procedure in New South Wales, including proceedings before magistrates, trial procedures, and appeal processes.

2. Evidence:

   • It provides in-depth analysis of evidence laws, including the rules of evidence and their application in criminal cases.

3. Sentencing:

   • The book includes a solid commentary on sentencing law, including the principles and practices behind sentencing decisions.

4. Crimes Act:

   • It comprehensively annotates the Crimes Act, which is a cornerstone of NSW criminal law, providing practitioners with detailed insights into the legislation.

5. Bail, Drugs, Summary Offences, Firearms and Weapons, Children, Mental Health, and Investigation:

   • The book covers a wide range of topical areas relevant to criminal law practice in NSW, including bail procedures, drug offenses, summary offenses, firearms laws, child-related offenses, mental health issues, and investigative techniques.

Plot Summary

The book is structured to provide practitioners with a thorough understanding of the legal framework governing criminal practice and procedure in New South Wales. It includes:

• Annotated Legislation: Over 140 Acts and Regulations are annotated by Howie and Johnson, providing practitioners with a clear understanding of how legislative provisions operate in practice.
• Commentary: In addition to the annotated legislation, the book includes topical commentary on various aspects of criminal procedure and evidence. This commentary is authored by Howie and Johnson, drawing on their extensive judicial experience.
• Recent Case Digests: A subscription to Criminal Law News (Crim LN) is included, which provides digests of recent cases and information about legislative developments, keeping practitioners up to date with the latest happenings in NSW criminal law.

Critical Reception

While specific reviews of the book are not readily available in the search results, the book is widely regarded as an indispensable tool for criminal law practitioners in New South Wales. Its comprehensive coverage of annotated legislation and topical commentary by experienced judges makes it a trusted resource for those practicing in the field.

Publication Details

• Authors: The Hon Roderick Howie KC and the Hon Peter Johnson
• Publication Date: The first edition was published in 1998, although it is likely that subsequent editions have been updated to reflect changes in the law.
• Format: Available in online, digital, and hardcopy formats.
• Subscription: Includes a subscription to Criminal Law News (Crim LN) for access to recent case digests and legislative updates.

In summary, "Criminal Practice and Procedure NSW" is a seminal work in the field of criminal law in New South Wales, providing practitioners with a comprehensive and authoritative guide to the legal framework governing criminal practice and procedure in the state.