Catchwords:

COURTS AND JUDGES – bias – apprehended bias – judge declined to recuse himself from presiding at criminal trial of applicant – judge’s partner of 29 years a Crown prosecutor who gave advice to police as to laying of charges against applicant – that Crown prosecutor not involved in subsequent pre-trial steps – whether judge disqualified by interest or association – application of Ebner test – fair-minded lay observer might reasonably apprehend that judge might not bring an impartial mind to his conduct of forthcoming trial of applicant