Lawyer Brian Birrell and retired police prosecutor Ken O’Connor both spent long hours in the Magistrate Bryan Cosgriff’s court, and they loved it.
Affectionately known as “Cossie”, both said he was a fair and effective magistrate while still seeing the lighter side of life.
“It was like walking into a comedy show,” Mr Birrell said.
“I probably appeared in front of Cossie as much as anybody did because my advocacy coincided with his arrival from the western district.
“He didn’t know anybody, so he found where I lived and came around and banged the door and we had a few beers.”
It was the start of a long-standing professional relationship and personal friendship.
Above all, Mr Birrell said his friend was a man of the people, dispensing justice but never demeaning anyone who appeared before him.
He could be tough, but he was scrupulously fair and often hilariously quick with a retort.
“If he wasn’t a magistrate, he could have been a stand-up comedian, he was that good,” Mr Birrell said.
“His one-liners were unbelievable.”
Like when the late-night naked escapades of two backpackers in a Mooroopna laundromat came before the court.
Neither party was there, which allowed for speculation, and the prosecutor asked the officer what cycle the washing machine was in when they interrupted the couple.
“Definitely on agitate,” Cossie quipped.
Or there was the time at the Cobram court where an officer gave evidence of walking into a local hotel where an extremely drunk man turned to them and yelled “All coppers are #$%^” to which Mr Cosgriff turned to the prosecutor and said “Mmm Sergeant, I didn’t realise the ratio was that high”.
Mr O’Connor said his sharp wit and sense of humour never got in the way of his judicial duty.
“He was fair to everybody, he treated everybody with respect, he never sought to demean anyone,” he said.
“He did a huge amount for the administration of justice in this area, and he will be missed.”
Mr Birrell agreed.
“He served the community well, he was a fair man, if he thought a person should be given another go before jail, he would give them another go,” he said.
“I reckon people around town, with no case, used to come into court to see him in full flight and I don’t think anyone ever walked out of his courtroom thinking they had been hard done by.”
Chief Magistrate Justice Lisa Hannan said Mr Cosgriff was appointed a magistrate in 1976 and retired in 1991.
He was one of the first to become a Reserve Magistrate in 1992 and served the court in that capacity until 2000.
“His Honour Bryan Cosgriff was a dedicated and much-loved magistrate and his service to the court and the Victorian community will not be forgotten,” Justice Hannan said.
“His Honour served our community with distinction.
“He was well known for his tireless work ethic and delivering fair and equitable justice primarily in Shepparton and the Hume region.
“He was well respected among our magistrates, court staff, the legal profession and other court users and on behalf of the court, I extend my deepest sympathies to His Honour’s wife Margaret and his family.”