Victoria’s highest court back in Shepparton after six years

By Monique Preston

Jun 7, 2024

Justices David Beach, Maree Kennedy and Lesley Taylor sat on the bench of the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court in Shepparton. Photo by Monique Preston

Victoria’s highest court has sat in Shepparton again for the first time in more than six years.

Three different appeals were heard over three days by the Court of Appeal in the Supreme Court during its time in Shepparton from June 4 to 6, while a fourth day was set aside for rulings on the appeals to be handed down.

A bench consisting of Justices David Beach, Maree Kennedy and Lesley Taylor heard the three appeals during the Shepparton circuit.

While the Court of Appeal, which hears appeals from both the County Court and Supreme Court, sits regularly in Melbourne, the last time there was a circuit in Shepparton was more than six years ago ‒ in April 2018 ‒ shortly after the current court building was opened.

Visiting the Court of Appeal in Shepparton were (standing, left to right) St Anne's Year 10 student's Lila-Kate Niederle, Oliver Mazzella, and Manjot Kaur with judges associates James Sutherland, and Amy Hatfield, Justice Maree Kennedy, Justice Lesley Taylor, Justice David Beach, judges associate Aiman Tarmizi and (front) St Anne's student Keeley Wellington. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

While the three judges were in Shepparton, they also met with Year 10 careers students from St Anne's College.

The judges spoke about their role and career paths in the law before answering questions from the students on everything from work life balance and memorable cases to how being a real-life lawyer compares to popular television shows.