CPD Seminar: Drug Law

PROGRAM:

2.05 - 2.30:  Marvia Sorenson ‑ Drug Court: Therapeutic Jurisprudence in Action (including how to refer a person to the Drug Court)

2.30 - 3.15:  Peter Harper ‑ The admissibility of code words in the prosecution of drug supply allegations

3.15 - 3.30:  Afternoon tea

3.30 - 4.15:  Dr Santiago Vazquez  ‑ Drug testing and how to interpret reports

4.15 – 5:00:  Judge Coakes ‑ On Being Dopey.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:

Marvia Sorenson, Legal Aid Senior Solicitor, Hunter Drug Court

Marvia was a Medical Social Worker at Royal Newcastle Hospital for 7 years. She then studied law at Sydney University while working as Associate to HH Judge Ducker and then HH Judge Freeman of the District Court for 11 years. Marvia joined Legal Aid NSW in 1998 where she worked wholly in the Criminal Law, in Local Courts, Indictable matters in the District Court and Committals both in Newcastle and Sydney.  In 2011 she commenced as the Senior Solicitor for Legal Aid at the Hunter Drug court.

Dr Santiago Vazquez, PhD, Section Head, Drug and Special Chemistries Laboratories, HAPS

Santiago did his Bachelor of Science honours degree and PhD at the University of Wollongong. In 2001 he moved to the USA and did a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan. While in the US he worked at Waters Life Sciences R & D in Boston as a Senior Research Chemist; and Pfizer Inc. San Diego as Senior Scientist. Since 2006 he has been section head of the Drug and Special Chemistries Laboratories at Hunter Area Pathology Service (HAPS) in Newcastle, New South Wales. His laboratory performs urine drug tests, therapeutic drug monitoring and many other tests.

Peter Harper, Barrister, Newcastle Chambers

Peter graduated with commerce/law from the University of NSW in 1980, commenced at Newcastle Legal Aid in same year working in crime in Local and District Courts until 1988. He then went to the Newcastle Bar and has practised in crime ever since. Peter was President of the Newcastle Bar Association for past 5 years and stood down in Feb this year.

Judge Giles Coakes, Federal Circuit Court, Newcastle

Judge Coakes was appointed a Federal Magistrate in January 2004 after practising as a Barrister for 15 years almost exclusively in the Family Courts of Australia. The greater part of his work involves adjudication of matters involving children which present many challenges and factual circumstances that would defy the imagination of a script writer. His Honour is acutely aware of early intervention to assist distressed and dysfunctional families to reach a resolution without the intervention of the Court process whenever possible and which must always be considered the last resort.