Meryl Sexton
Encyclopedia
Judge Meryl Sexton is a Judge of the County Court
in Victoria
, Australia
, appointed in August 2001.
with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics. She completed her articles at law firm Cody Dwyer & Associates and was admitted to practice law in 1984. Upon going to the Bar, her master was future County Court Judge Fred Davey.
She was appointed as a Judge of the County Court in 2001, and in October 2005 was appointed Judge in Charge of the Sex Offences List, a position she still holds.
Among her most noted cases are those of a priest who sexually assaulted children, an attack on West Indian cricketer Marlon Black
, a trial following the largest ever hashish seizure in Victoria, the former manager of rock band Mi-Sex
who had sex with an underage girl and a man who committed a rape on his buck's night.
Her highest-profile case has been the rape trial of Australian rules footballer Andrew Lovett
, which began on 11 July 2011.
Sexton is heavily involved in legislative reform, particularly relating to sexual offences. She is a member of the Victorian Government's Sexual Assault Advisory Committee and was a member of the Victorian Law Reform Commission's Sexual Offences Reference Advisory committee.
She is on the Council of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and part of the Advisory Committee for the Child Witness Service.
Sexton is also involved in legal education and has produced many articles and papers relating to sexual offences, particularly on those relating to changes to relevant legislation. In particular, "Changes to the Mental Element of Rape Twilight", "Propensity in Sexual Assault Cases" and an overview of The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 are essential reading for practitioners.
She was the first female to be made a life member of the Monash University hockey club.
Sexton has also been involved in women's issues, as a member of the Equality Before the Law Committee and the Women Barristers Association, trustee of the Queen Victoria Women's Centre Trust, and President of the Victorian Division of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women.
County Court of Victoria
The County Court of Victoria was established in 1852 by the County Courts Act 1852. The court has jurisdiction in the State of Victoria, Australia...
in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, appointed in August 2001.
Early life
Sexton graduated from Monash UniversityMonash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
with a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics. She completed her articles at law firm Cody Dwyer & Associates and was admitted to practice law in 1984. Upon going to the Bar, her master was future County Court Judge Fred Davey.
Professional career
Sexton specialised in criminal matters from 1985. She appeared for both prosecution and defence before being appointed Crown Prosecutor in 1995, and prosecuted several high-profile and complex cases, including notorious pedophile Michael Glennon.She was appointed as a Judge of the County Court in 2001, and in October 2005 was appointed Judge in Charge of the Sex Offences List, a position she still holds.
Among her most noted cases are those of a priest who sexually assaulted children, an attack on West Indian cricketer Marlon Black
Marlon Black
Marlon Ian Black is a former West Indian cricketer who played in six Tests and five ODIs, debuting in the year 2000....
, a trial following the largest ever hashish seizure in Victoria, the former manager of rock band Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex
Mi-Sex was a New Zealand new wave rock band active from 1978 to 1984. Led by Steve Gilpin as vocalist, they were best known for their singles "Computer Games" in 1979 and "People" in 1980.-History:...
who had sex with an underage girl and a man who committed a rape on his buck's night.
Her highest-profile case has been the rape trial of Australian rules footballer Andrew Lovett
Andrew Lovett
Andrew Lovett is an Aboriginal Australian rules footballer who played in the Australian Football League for Essendon between 2005 and 2009...
, which began on 11 July 2011.
Sexton is heavily involved in legislative reform, particularly relating to sexual offences. She is a member of the Victorian Government's Sexual Assault Advisory Committee and was a member of the Victorian Law Reform Commission's Sexual Offences Reference Advisory committee.
She is on the Council of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and part of the Advisory Committee for the Child Witness Service.
Sexton is also involved in legal education and has produced many articles and papers relating to sexual offences, particularly on those relating to changes to relevant legislation. In particular, "Changes to the Mental Element of Rape Twilight", "Propensity in Sexual Assault Cases" and an overview of The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Act 2006 are essential reading for practitioners.
Other activities
Sexton is an enthusiastic amateur actress, and stars as the judge in "We, The Jury", a video shown to those reporting for jury duty as an introduction to court processes. In a previous version, prior to her appointment as a judge, she played the Crown prosecutor.She was the first female to be made a life member of the Monash University hockey club.
Sexton has also been involved in women's issues, as a member of the Equality Before the Law Committee and the Women Barristers Association, trustee of the Queen Victoria Women's Centre Trust, and President of the Victorian Division of the Australian Federation of Business and Professional Women.