Basil Gribbin
Encyclopedia
Basil Gribbin was a co-ordinating magistrate in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court and a member of the Queensland Magistrates Association, which is the equivalent of a Magistrates Union
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm. Gribbin served as a Magistrate from 9 January 1987 to 10 May 2008 http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
in 1964. He later worked as a registrar in over nine court registries including Springsure, Herberton, Cairns, Beenleigh, Inala
and Rockhampton
. After being admitted as a legal practitioner in late 1984, he undertook a series of appointments as Acting Magistrate at Herberton, Cairns, Beenleigh, Inala and Rockhampton over a two-year period before being appointed as a Queensland Magistrate http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
In 1998, Queensland Courts established a Rules Committee to introduce and monitor the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules. Magistrate Gribbin served as one of the court’s two representatives on the committee since its inception – a role he relinquished just prior to his retirement http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
in 2002 in support of a fellow magistrate named Ann Thacker, who was challenging a decision made by then Chief Magistrate
, Di Fingleton to transfer her from Brisbane
to Townsville.http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm This resulted in Fingleton sending Gribbin an email asking him to show cause why she should not dismiss him from the position of supervising magistrate. Gribbin responded by accusing her of attempting to pervert the course of justice and trying to interfere with his right to give evidence in support of Thacker http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm. Gribbin referred the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and this resulted in Fingleton being convicted of the offence of retaliating against a witness
. Her conviction was later quashed on appeal in a unanimous decision of the High Court of Australia
.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm. Gribbin served as a Magistrate from 9 January 1987 to 10 May 2008 http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
Legal career
Gribbin commenced his working life as a clerk at the Magistrates Court at WarwickWarwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
in 1964. He later worked as a registrar in over nine court registries including Springsure, Herberton, Cairns, Beenleigh, Inala
Inala
Inala can refer to:* Inala, Queensland, a place in Brisbane, Australia* Electoral district of Inala, Queensland, Australia* Inala, a 1985 album by the South African chorus Ladysmith Black Mambazo...
and Rockhampton
Rockhampton, Queensland
Rockhampton is a city and local government area in Queensland, Australia. The city lies on the Fitzroy River, approximately from the river mouth, and some north of the state capital, Brisbane....
. After being admitted as a legal practitioner in late 1984, he undertook a series of appointments as Acting Magistrate at Herberton, Cairns, Beenleigh, Inala and Rockhampton over a two-year period before being appointed as a Queensland Magistrate http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
In 1998, Queensland Courts established a Rules Committee to introduce and monitor the Uniform Civil Procedure Rules. Magistrate Gribbin served as one of the court’s two representatives on the committee since its inception – a role he relinquished just prior to his retirement http://www.courts.qld.gov.au/MagistratesCourt/M-AR-2007-08-Part2.pdf.
Role in imprisonment of Di Fingleton
He is most famous for having written an affidavitAffidavit
An affidavit is a written sworn statement of fact voluntarily made by an affiant or deponent under an oath or affirmation administered by a person authorized to do so by law. Such statement is witnessed as to the authenticity of the affiant's signature by a taker of oaths, such as a notary public...
in 2002 in support of a fellow magistrate named Ann Thacker, who was challenging a decision made by then Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate
Chief Magistrate is a generic designation for a public official whose office—individual or collegial—is the highest in his or her class, in either of the fundamental meanings of Magistrate : as a major political and administrative office , and/or as a judge Chief Magistrate is a generic designation...
, Di Fingleton to transfer her from Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
to Townsville.http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm This resulted in Fingleton sending Gribbin an email asking him to show cause why she should not dismiss him from the position of supervising magistrate. Gribbin responded by accusing her of attempting to pervert the course of justice and trying to interfere with his right to give evidence in support of Thacker http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/8.30/lawrpt/stories/s1401264.htm. Gribbin referred the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and this resulted in Fingleton being convicted of the offence of retaliating against a witness
Witness
A witness is someone who has firsthand knowledge about an event, or in the criminal justice systems usually a crime, through his or her senses and can help certify important considerations about the crime or event. A witness who has seen the event first hand is known as an eyewitness...
. Her conviction was later quashed on appeal in a unanimous decision of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
.