DPP Sydney

Today the Sydney Morning Herald reported the news that Lloyd Babb (Senior Counsel) is set to be appointed as the next Director of Public Prosecutions. In the article written by Anna Patty and Shaun Nicholls they report that Mr Babb would have a very different style to Nicholas Cowdery QC and is not expected to be as outspoken. It was reported that “he is about the job and not himself”.

We can only hope that Mr Babb demonstrates the same strength of character, independence and courage that Nicholas Cowdery QC did for over 17 years. Mr Cowdery was a man of strong conviction and would not be swayed by pressure from politicians, the public or the press. He was a man very true to the office to which he served.

We hope that Mr Babb SC will display the same characteristics as Mr Cowdrey. That he will stand for the interests of justice and not be moved by public opinion whether outspoken or not.

The office of the Director of Public Prosecution is a very important role and requires independence from Government and public opinion. The office demands a commitment to the foundational principals of our legal system being that every person is presumed innocent until proven guilty and that every person regardless of the offence they are accused of committing deserves a fair trial.

Lionel Rattenbury