Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace continues his yarn with advocate and trailblazer The Honourable Judge Dina Yehia SC. They discuss high-profile cases, diversity in law, and a refreshing new approach to sentencing.

In the second part of this illuminating podcast interview, Justice Dina Yehia SC reflects on her practice in the Supreme Court, which included murder and terrorism trials. In 2013, she appeared as lead counsel in the High Court case of The Queen v Bugmy. “We wanted to move the law along,” she explains. “We wanted to say [that] the High Court should endorse a position whereby judges should take into account – when sentencing an Indigenous person – the systemic disadvantage brought about by colonisation and dispossession.”

Justice Yehia also talks about the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody and her work to establish an Indigenous sentencing court as part of the NSW District Court. The Walama List commenced operating in the District Court on 31 January 2022. “It’s a very different approach to sentencing,” she explains, emphasising the involvement of Aboriginal people in several instrumental roles. “We conduct conversations that really are a deep dive into the underlying issues that give rise to people’s offending and, equally importantly, what do we do about it?”

Her Honour also shares some advice for young lawyers and discusses her role as Chair of Diverse Women in Law, which encourages women from diverse backgrounds to enter, remain and progress in the legal profession. “I do believe that if you love the law [then] you need to give back,” she says.

Note: The Hon. Justice Dina Yehia was appointed as a Supreme Court judge as of July 4 2022. References to Justice Yehia as "Her Honour Judge Dina Yehia SC" refers to her previous position at the District Court. We apologise for not using her new title. 

Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace continues his yarn with advocate and trailblazer The Honourable Judge Dina Yehia SC. They discuss high-profile cases, diversity in law, and a refreshing new approach to sentencing.
In the second part of this illuminating podcast interview, Justice Dina Yehia SC reflects on her practice in the Supreme Court, which included murder and terrorism trials. In 2013, she appeared as lead counsel in the High Court case of The Queen v Bugmy. “We wanted to move the law along,” she explains. “We wanted to say [that] the High Court should endorse a position whereby judges should take into account – when sentencing an Indigenous person – the systemic disadvantage brought about by colonisation and dispossession.”
Justice Yehia also talks about the overrepresentation of Aboriginal people in custody and her work to establish an Indigenous sentencing court as part of the NSW District Court. The Walama List commenced operating in the District Court on 31 January 2022. “It’s a very different approach to sentencing,” she explains, emphasising the involvement of Aboriginal people in several instrumental roles. “We conduct conversations that really are a deep dive into the underlying issues that give rise to people’s offending and, equally importantly, what do we do about it?”
Her Honour also shares some advice for young lawyers and discusses her role as Chair of Diverse Women in Law, which encourages women from diverse backgrounds to enter, remain and progress in the legal profession. “I do believe that if you love the law [then] you need to give back,” she says.
Note: The Hon. Justice Dina Yehia was appointed as a Supreme Court judge as of July 4 2022. References to Justice Yehia as "Her Honour Judge Dina Yehia SC" refers to her previous position at the District Court. We apologise for not using her new title.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Sustainability is an issue that affects us all, but how can we take steps to provoke meaningful change and make a lasting impact on environmental, social and governance issues across the globe? We explore the intersection of business value with business values for a more prosperous and sustainable future.

Join us for our first podcast series, ESG Matters @ Ashurst as we go searching for answers and providing practical advice to help you address the challenges facing your organisation.

ESG Matters @ Ashurst Podcast

ESG Matters @ Ashurst

Ashurst First Nations Lead Trent Wallace continues his yarn with advocate and trailblazer The Honourable Judge Dina Yehia SC. They discuss high-profile cases, diversity in law, and a refreshing new approach to sentencing.

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