Two esteemed former presidents of the Queensland Court of Appeal and the Children’s Court of Queensland will present a public talk at USC on the crucial topics of domestic violence, coercive control and juvenile justice.

USC’s School of Law and Society is co-hosting the Judges Hotseat interactive event on Tuesday 16 November from 5pm to 7.30pm at USC’s Innovation Centre auditorium at Sippy Downs.

Guest speakers will be the Honourable Margaret McMurdo AC (Chair of Queensland Community Foundation, Chair of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce and former President of the Queensland Court of Appeal) and retired District Court Judge John Robertson (former President of the Children’s Court of Queensland, Chair of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council).

Senior Lecturer in Law Dr Dominique Moritz said USC had organised the event with the Sunshine Coast Community Foundation to encourage input from university academics and students, policy makers, police, lawyers, education and health professionals, journalists and the public.

“It will provide an exciting opportunity for community professionals and students to hear about trends, issues and reform in relation to domestic violence, coercive control and youth justice issues – all very significant and topical matters,” she said.

“Our guest speakers are two prominent and highly respected leaders in law and are current members of taskforces and advisory councils on women’s safety and youth criminal justice respectively.”

USC has a special connection to the Honourable Margaret McMurdo, who opened its Law School’s moot court and delivered the inaugural USC Law Oration in 2015.

Dr Moritz said the event would enable networking between professionals and students, while also allowing audience members to ask questions about the criminal justice system issues.

For ticketing and registration details, go to usc.edu.au/judges-hotseat