Criminal Division adds judges Neill Hutton, Ashlee Cannon, Amit Malik
The County Court of Victoria recently released a practice note for court users and guidelines for judicial officers, stating the court’s expectations for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) in court proceedings.
The new practice note and guidelines clarified that any AI use in court matters should comply with existing legal, ethical, and professional requirements.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to expand access to justice and support participation in the judicial process, the new practice note for court users identified limitations and risks that they should know and manage.
The practice note emphasised court users’ responsibility to ensure that AI-produced content is current, complete, accurate, and applicable to the relevant jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the new guidelines for judicial officers sought to reflect the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s eight principles for promoting the safe and responsible AI use before courts and tribunals.
According to the court’s news release, while supportive AI use was permissible, the guidelines nevertheless reminded judicial officers that only court-approved AI tools were usable.
Sonya Kilkenny, Victoria’s attorney-general, has also announced the appointments of Neill Hutton, Ashlee Cannon, and Amit Malik as three new judges sitting in the Criminal Division of the County Court of Victoria.
The County Court and the Judicial College of Victoria congratulated these three judicial appointees. The court’s news release provided more information about them.
With a criminal practice spanning over two decades, Judge Hutton has focused on criminal trial work before Victoria’s County Court and Supreme Court and has appeared regularly before the state’s Court of Appeal. He became senior counsel in August 2024.
He signed the Victorian bar roll in April 2004 after gaining admission into practice in February 2004.
Judge Cannon’s experience has encompassed legal matters involving sex offences and family violence. Cannon has made regular appearances in Victorian County Court and Supreme Court trials.
Cannon has also made appearances in domestic building disputes and cost complaints before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Cannon signed the Victorian bar roll in May 2009.
Judge Malik’s trial advocate experience has encompassed all areas of criminal law and appearances before all courts. As an appellate advocate, he has also appeared before the Court of Appeal of New Zealand and Victoria.
He has built his criminal practice since signing the Victorian bar roll in May 2018. He earned admission as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of South Wales and as a barrister and solicitor in the High Court of New Zealand in September 2000 and in June 2001.
