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Former magistrate to be struck off for child sex offences
A former Queensland-based magistrate has been recommended for removal from the roll in the Sunshine State following his conviction in 2017 for 18 child sex offences.
Jerome Doraisamy
In November 2017, William John Randall – who was admitted as a solicitor in 1981 and was a magistrate – was convicted by a jury trial of 18 child sex offences committed over a period of 12 years, including maintaining “an unlawful sexual relationship with a child for a period of 12 years”.
He was, the QLD Civil and Administrative Tribunal noted, a sitting magistrate at the time of his offending.
“The conduct for which the respondent was convicted was heinous and repugnant to the moral sensibilities of all right-thinking members of the community,” the tribunal held in considering whether or not to remove Mr Randall from the roll of practitioners.
“It was conduct which, of itself, amply supports a finding that the respondent is not a fit and proper person to engage in legal practice.
“The nature, and extent, of the conduct is also such as to inform the order which ought be made as a consequence of that finding. It was conduct which is incompatible with the personal qualities essential for practice as a legal practitioner.
“By engaging in this conduct, the respondent effectively forfeited the privilege of ongoing membership of an honourable profession.”
Accordingly, Mr Randall was recommended for removal from the roll and he was ordered to pay the costs of the QLD Legal Services commissioner.
The judgment is in Legal Services Commissioner v Randall [2019] QCAT 217 and is available via the Supreme Court of Queensland’s website.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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