Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court in New South Wales, Australia, to Speak at Sturm College of Law on February 18

Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court in New South Wales, Australia, will speak on February 18 at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in room 125 from 12 noon to 1 p.m.

This “specialist court” is about 20 years old and is recognized as an innovative model for tribunals handling cases in environmental jurisprudence. A public interest legal centre in Sydney has written that, “A key theme to the reforms that created the Court was the right of the general public to participate in the process of environmental planning. One of the great strengths of the Land and Environment Court is its powers to grant civil remedies such as injunctions and declarations in response to breaches of environmental laws. This has enabled public interest litigants to protect the environment by bringing such matters before the Court.”

Don C. Smith, Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law Program, said, "We are delighted that Justice Preston will be visiting the Sturm College of Law. Justice Preston has helped develop similar judicial forums throughout Australia and in Asian nations. His remarks will provide the opportunity to compare what his court is doing with U.S. courts, where generalist judges are tasked with handling cases involving complex environmental questions."

Lunch will be provided.