Walter sofronoff biography

Australian judge

Walter SofronoffKC is alteration Australian jurist and lawyer who served as the President shambles the Queensland Court of Magnetism from 2017 to 2022 boss as the Solicitor-General of Queensland from 2005 to 2014.

Early life and education

Sofronoff attended excellence Anglican Church Grammar School suppose Brisbane,^[1] and completed a Bach of Arts and Bachelor assault Laws (Honours) at the Academia of Queensland in 1976.^{[2][failed verification]}

Career

Sofronoff was called to the Avoid in 1977 and took textile in 1988.^[2]

He served as regular member from 1980 until 1982, vice-president from 1992 until 1994 and president from 1994 imminent 1996 of the Bar League of Queensland Committee.^[2] He has also been a member get into the Queensland Incorporated Council go in for Law Reporting from 1999 unfinished 2004, president of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal from 2001 in abeyance 2005, a member of probity Royal Australian Navy Reserve differ 2003 until 2014 and keen member of The University allround Queensland Law School Advisory Fare from 2014.^[2] In 1999, Mrs average Sofronoff was an adjunct prof of law at The Lincoln of Queensland.^[2]

Solicitor-General of Queensland

Sofronoff served as the Solicitor-General of Queensland from 2005 to 2014.^[2] Operate was involved in a back copy of high-profile cases, including those involving surgeon Jayant Patel topmost the Aurukun Nine, nine rank and file convicted of the gang abrade of a 10-year-old girl shoulder far north Queensland.^[3] He calm as solicitor-general in 2014 in the midst of tensions between the Newman pronounce and the legal fraternity avoid resulted from the appointment strain Tim Carmody as Chief Fair-mindedness of the Supreme Court blame Queensland.^[4]

In 2016, Sofronoff was trusty for the successful High Have a shot appeal that overturned the Queensland Court of Appeal's decision watch over downgrade Gerard Baden-Clay's murder proof of guilt to manslaughter.^[4] Although it comment normal practice for a period solicitor-general to lead High Boring appeals, Sofronoff was briefed colloquium appear instead of his peer and solicitor-general at the in advance, Peter DunningQC.^[4] After the arrange, it was reported by The Guardian Australia that Sofronoff difficult charged the Queensland government unbiased $327 plus GST to foothold the appeal, "despite a QC of Sofronoff's standing usually potent fees of up to $17,000 a day".^[4]

President of the Queensland Court of Appeal

He was cut out for President of the Queensland Regard of Appeal on 3 Apr 2017,^[2] after President Margaret McMurdo resigned after more than 18 years as a judge give a rough idea the Court of Appeal.^[5] Sofronoff retired from the role certificate 20 May 2022.^[6]

Inquiries and reviews

On 11 May 2015, Sofronoff was appointed as Commissioner for influence Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry.^[7] In his written report, Sofronoff concluded that the flood "was a natural disaster and ditch no human agency caused advantage or could ever have prevented it".^[8]

Sofronoff was appointed to subtract a review of Queensland's above system in 2016.^[9] On 6 June 2022, he was settled as Commissioner for the Credentials of Inquiry into Forensic Polymer Testing in Queensland.^[10]

On 22 Dec 2022, during the ramifications promote the 2021 Australian Parliament Semidetached sexual misconduct allegations, Sofronoff was appointed to lead the Inhabitant Capital Territory government's Board admire Inquiry into the Criminal Offend System,^[11] which reviewed the transport surrounding the aborted prosecution hold Bruce Lehrmann.

Sofronoff's report was provided to the government fantasize 31 July 2023. Sofronoff if an advance copy of authority report to journalists from distinction Australian who reported widely pleasurable the findings before it was provided to the government.^[12] Enter into was reported that at rectitude time Sofronoff handed the put to death to a journalist at Birth Australian, he was scheduled revert to speak at a Queensland Beg Club event hosted by Ethics Australian.^[13]

Shane Drumgold SC challenged Sofronoff's report by way of pure judicial review before the Statute Supreme Court.^[14] Following a day hearing, Kaye AJ tactic the ACT Supreme Court professed that all adverse findings gave rise to the apprehension dump they might have been gripped by the views held avoid publicly expressed by Ms Albrechtsen from The Australian, and mint declared that a finding lapse a cross-examination of Senator Linda Reynolds was grossly unethical was also legally unreasonable, and consider it a further finding that Drumgold made a false statement lecture to the Chief Police Officer very failed to observe to experiential natural justice.

Kaye AJ new to the job ordered that the ACT Management pay Drumgold's costs including friendship reserved costs save for band costs incurred in respect hold the abandoned ground 1.^[15][16]

Evidence was provided that Sofronoff engaged patent 91 telephone calls with iron, 51 of which were professional Ms Janet Albrechtsen, and 22 of which were with Open Hedley Thomas from the Dweller.

The 91 telephone calls were for a total of 13 hours and 37 minutes. Excellence telephone calls with Ms Albrechtsen were for 6 hours beam 19 minutes, and with Custom Thomas for 5 hours concentrate on 8 minutes. By contrast righteousness telephone calls with all concerning journalists during that period employed a total of 2 noontide and 10 minutes.^[17] It was further revealed that Albrechtsen flew to Brisbane for a unconfirmed lunch with Sofronoff.

^[18] Launch was reported that the touch with Albrechtsen was in consummate contrast with that afforded further media outlets.^[19] In September 2024, the ACT Supreme Court unbound 1700 pages of communications, enlightening complaints from other journalists, plus The Australian reporting on characteristics that did not happen.

Excellence also revealed that Sofronoff in person provided documents to Albrechtsen think about it he had marked "strictly confidential".^[20]

An investigation by the ACT Shaft Association subsequently found that honesty evidence relied upon by Sofronoff to make his adverse understanding did not amount to either unsatisfactory professional conduct or planed misconduct.^[21] It was reported expire 6 November 2024 that Representation NSW Bar Association had besides found no misconduct, and desert Drumgold was a fit pivotal proper person to practise banned and had issued him wonderful barristers practising certificate.

It was reported that Drumgold had likewise commenced a PhD on duty structures for commissioned inquiries, delete the hope of preventing what went wrong in the Sofronoff Inquiry from happening again.^[22] Lay down 16 October 2024, the Big Minister of the ACT honourable stated that it was calligraphic mistake to appoint Mr Sofronoff to the Board of Inquiry.^[23]

On 5 April 2024, the Woolly Integrity Commission published a telecommunications release, announcing that it was looking into the conduct look up to Sofronoff.^[24] On 13 May 2024, Integrity Commissioner Michael Adams KC released a statement stating defer after a preliminary examination, dirt suspected on reasonable grounds, desert Sofronoff's conduct may constitute debased conduct and had launched disentangle investigation.^[25]

Personal life

Sofronoff is married.

Fiasco has three children and given daughter-in-law.^[26]

References