Below is a summary of an interstate legal decision involving a solicitor.
Supreme Court of Western Australia
Legal Practice Board of WA v Rodgers [2024] WASC 247
Decision published: 9 July 2024
On 9 July 2024, the Supreme Court of Western Australia (Supreme Court) published its decision in disciplinary proceedings that the Legal Practice Board of Western Australia (Board) had commenced against Mr Gary Martin Rodgers.
The Supreme Court made an order for the removal of Mr Rodgers’ name from the Supreme Court Roll (Roll), having found that he had conspired to pervert the course of justice by pressuring a witness to change their police statement in the course of criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court was satisfied that Mr Rodgers was not a fit and proper person to remain on the Roll and held:
“[19] Mr Rodgers’ agreement to pervert the course of justice is misconduct of a most serious kind. It demonstrates disregard for the very system with which Mr Rodgers has been entrusted, as an officer of the court, to aid in administering. His conduct was not only at odds with the requisite characteristics of a fit and proper person, it was destructive of the confidence the court, clients and the public are entitled to place in his ability to uphold and participate in not only the criminal justice system, but the administration of justice more generally.”
