New Special Advocates nominated

The Attorney-General has nominated Harry Hewitt and Edmund Burge for appointment to the Junior list of Special Advocates. The system of Special Advocates deals with cases where there is material which is too sensitive to be disclosed to the defendant (or applicant/appellant as the case may be), but upon which the Attorney-General considers it right that representations be made on their behalf. Those representations are made by the Special Advocate in a closed hearing without the defendant or their instructed legal representatives being present.

The use of Special Advocates has developed from its original application in cases before the Special Immigration Appeal Commission (SIAC), and can now be used in criminal, immigration and other specified types of proceedings, e.g. cases alleging terrorist activity, proceedings before the Proscribed Organisation Appeals Commission and the Parole Board and even in planning appeals. Upon the Attorney-General deciding that their use in particular proceedings is appropriate, the defendant is provided with the list of appointed Special Advocates from which they can chose whosoever they wish to undertake that role.