Australian Courts Considering Aboriginality Case Summaries Launch

The AUCCACS database launched on AustLII on Tuesday 10 July, was respectfully dedicated to Judge Bob Bellear. UNSW law students have worked with the ILC to develop case summaries of criminal sentencing cases that consider the Aboriginal background of the defendant.  Each summary contains basic information relating to the case, a brief description of why the defendant’s Aboriginal background, their cultural practice or customary law of their community was relevant to the case and how it was considered by the court. The database has been designed as a clinical tool for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services, as well as for other legal aid organisations, community legal centres and legal practitioners representing Indigenous clients. The database will also serve as a resource to policymakers, researchers, law students and community advocates. It is now accessible online at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/other/AUCCACS/. To learn more about the project and or become involved view our website.