NSWCCL's Nicholas Cowdery presents a lecture on Mandatory Sentencing (hosted by Sydney Law School)

Mandatory sentencing: Getting justice wrong

The spectre of mandatory sentencing has haunted sentencing legislation in NSW for at least a century and a half. It has arisen again in recent months. This lecture will explore some of its history, its faults (there being no virtues) and its avoidance. It will argue that a stake should be driven through its heart one last time.

About the speaker
Nicholas Cowdery AM QC is an Adjunct Professor in the Sydney Institute of Criminology and a Visiting Professorial Fellow at UNSW and the University of Wollongong. He has practised in criminal law since 1971 and was Director of Public Prosecutions for NSW from 1994 to 2011. He has been an Associate (acting) Judge of the District Court of NSW. He was founding Co-Chair of the Human Rights Institute of the International Bar Association and was President of the International Association of Prosecutors. He has been a member of the NSW Sentencing Council since its establishment in 2003. He is a member of the Governing Committee of the Rule of Law Institute of Australia. He is the author of "Getting Justice Wrong: Myths, Media and Crime" (Allen & Unwin, 2001).

Lawyers/barristers: attendance at this lecture is equal to 1 MCLE/CPD unit.

Time: 6-7pm followed by a cocktail reception (registration from 5.30pm)

Location: Faculty Common Room, Level 4, New Law School Building (F10), Eastern Ave University of Sydney

Cost: Full Fee $15; SLS Alumni $10; Student $10

Contact: Professional Learning & Community Engagement

Phone: 02 9351 0429

Email: [email protected]

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