Kirby Moot

Mooting is the oldest form of legal training for law advocates. At many universities, mooting competitions can be selected as an elective unit in your undergraduate law degree.

The Kirby Moot demonstrates VU’s strong industry connections. It is a fixture in the legal calendar and has strong support from the County Court of Victoria, members of the Victorian Bar, various law firms and practical legal training institutions. Law professionals are invited to judge the rounds and provide feedback to students.

Established in 2010, the annual Michael Kirby Justice Oration provides a platform for leaders within our community to share their experiences, deep understanding, knowledge and reflections on issues of justice.

Event details

Date: Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Time:  
Refreshments – 5pm–5.30pm 
Oration – 5.50pm–6.30pm
Location: 295 Queen Street, Melbourne
RSVP: Monday 16 September 2024

2024 orator: Ms Catherine Holmes AC SC

Catherine Holmes AC SC was appointed Chief Justice of Queensland in 2015 and retired in March 2022. She had previously served as a judge of the Court of Appeal (2006 – 2015) and of the Trial Division (2000 – 2006) of the Supreme Court of Queensland. From 2011 to 2012, Ms Holmes was Commissioner of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry.

Commissioner Holmes is a graduate of the University of Queensland and the Australian National University, with undergraduate degrees in Law, Arts (Hons) and Economics and a Master's degree in Law. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1982 and as a barrister in 1984. In 1999 she was appointed Senior Counsel.

Ms Holmes was a founding member of the Women's Legal Service (from 1984) and was a member of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal (1992 – 2000). From 1998 to 1999 she served as Counsel Assisting the Commission of Inquiry into Abuse of Children in Queensland Institutions.

In January 2020, Ms Holmes was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for 'eminent service to the judiciary, notably to criminal, administrative and mental health law, and to the community of Queensland'.

Topic: Miscarriages of justice in Australia – some famous (& infamous) cases

The Australian criminal justice system generally works well. Trial by jury, with the presumption that the defendant is innocent, is a great protection against unjust convictions. The availability of appeal to intermediate courts of appeal in each State and Territory provides a further layer of protection; and finally, of course, there is the possibility of obtaining leave to appeal to the High Court of Australia. But every so often a case emerges which shows that the system has failed to recognise and correct injustice.

Remedying of wrong convictions, when it does occur, can take a disturbingly long time. This speech focuses on the cases of five individuals who were wrongly convicted and ultimately vindicated: Lindy Chamberlain, who served three years imprisonment, missing the early years of the child she gave birth to in jail; John Button, who served five years; Andrew Mallard, who spent 12 years in jail; and Kathleen Folbigg and Henry Keogh, who respectively spent the appallingly long periods of 20 and 21 years in custody. What caused those miscarriages of justice? Why did the criminal justice system not work to rectify them? And what might be done for the future, either to avoid such miscarriages happening at all or to remedy them more quickly when they do?