G’Day Mate, Training in the Land Down Under

This past October, the Justice Speakers Institute’s (JSI) three partners — David Wallace, Mack Jenkins, and Brian MacKenzie —conducted a series of training programs, presentations, and interviews in Australia, beginning in the city of Hobart and then later in the city of Melbourne.

Training in Hobart, Tasmania

Hobart is the capital and largest city in Tasmania, which is both an island and a state under Australia’s constitution. The island, about the size of Ireland, lies southeast of the continent and is said to be either surrounded by the Southern (Antarctic) Ocean or to have the Pacific on its east and the Indian Ocean on its west. It is most widely known as the home of the endangered Tasmanian Devil and also as the birthplace of Errol Flynn and Hobart is at the southern tip of the island. It usually doesn’t land on the itinerary of American tourists, but this was an exciting visit for us, because we could promote improvements in the worldwide justice system, honor our dear friend Judge Peggy Hora, who would have said she was an honorary Tasmanian, and, even for a chance to see the devils.

The partners were invited to Tasmania by Just Desserts, a non-profit organization created to support the Court Mandated Drug Treatment program. The organization asked the partners to develop a day-long training session on these lifesaving courts for criminal justice professionals and also give two evening presentations.

The day-long training was entitled Therapeutic Jurisprudence and More in the Courts and it was attended by approximately fifty criminal justice professionals. The first evening presentation was a Panel Discussion for Judicial Officers and lawyers on ‘Therapeutic Jurisprudence and More‘ at the Law Society of Tasmania. After the presentation, former Chief Magistrate Michael Hill (Ret.) and Liz Moore hosted dinner for JSI’s partners and many of those who attended that presentation.

The second evening presentation was open to the general public and it was held at the University of Tasmania Law School, with members of the Tasmanian Parliament in attendance. Just Desserts also arranged for the JSI partners to appear on an Australian Broadcasting Company morning radio show to discuss how Treatment Courts could reduce crime in Tasmania and broader in Australia.

Radio interview below:

Thankfully, JSI was able to spend plenty of time with, among others, Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly, Former Chief Magistrate Michael Hill (Ret.), and Liz Moore, Case Manager Well Being Support, Tasmanian Department of Justice, before jetting off the Australian mainland.

Training in Melbourne, Victoria

Melbourne is a city filled with great food, coffee, and wine. As a result, it was a place that our friend Peggy both loved and presented in many times. It is part of the State of Victoria, which runs along the southeast coast of Australia. So, when Ms. Elanor Peattie, the Associate Director for Therapeutic Justice and Criminal Law for Victoria Legal Aid, reached out to request that JSI do two presentations in Melbourne, we were delighted to agree. Ms. Peattie, working with Dan Nicholson – Executive Director, Criminal Law, Kate Bundrock – Director, Summary Crime & Therapeutic Justice, and Giuliana Bell – Executive Assistant, Criminal Law, for Victoria Legal Aid, set up a breakfast question and answer presentation followed by a webinar. They invited the leaders of the Drug Court movement within the State of Victoria, including several judges and magistrates, along with defense lawyers and other criminal justice professionals, for the breakfast presentation.

During the breakfast, the JSI partners took lots of questions about how Drug Courts function and how they reduce crime and recidivism. The audience was focused and attentive, with many staying past the start of the workday to ask questions. Afterward, the partners did a webinar entitled ‘Therapeutic Court and The Role of The Defense Lawyer.’ The webinar discussed best practices and Drug Court teams with a special emphasis on the role of the defense lawyer.

Thank you

JSI is very grateful for the opportunity to present in Australia and we wish to express our gratitude to Just Desserts and Victoria Legal Aid for inviting us. We are also grateful to our departed friend Judge Peggy Hora, who blazed the way for us in the land down under.