Conflict between judge and NSW prosecutors referred to powerful privileges committee amid ‘intimidation’ concern

Committee asked to consider if parliamentary rules broken when submission from judge Penelope Wass was used against her by ODDP

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The powerful New South Wales privileges committee has been asked to examine whether the state's prosecutors' office breached parliamentary rules by using a judge's submission to an inquiry to have her removed from trials.

Citing a potentially chilling effect" for future witnesses, an upper house inquiry asked for an investigation into the conduct of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). This came after a submission critical of the ODPP - made under parliamentary privilege by district court judge Penelope Wass - was used to argue she should stand aside from criminal trials involving the public prosecutor.