{
  "id": 13878117,
  "title": "Top judge urges caution over plan to ban character references",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/top-judge-urges-caution-over-plan-to-ban-character-references",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T05:09:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-12/wa-chief-justice-urges-care-over-reference-ban/107256724"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ahead of proposals to ban character references in WA criminal trials, the state's chief justice, Peter Quinlan, has urged caution. Quinlan stated that character references can help judges understand an offender's prospects of rehabilitation. However, the legislation to ban character references has not yet been drafted and will be subject to consultation. While the government has announced plans to ban character references, Quinlan emphasized that judges already exercise careful discretion when considering good character references. He noted that judges are not easily swayed by such references and that some offenses might actually be worsened by a good reputation. Quinlan provided an example of a young offender who injured someone in a fight outside a pub, whose employer gave a character reference, leading the judge to consider a suspended sentence with conditions. Quinlan believes that references can provide insights into an offender's support structures and the human element behind their actions, particularly in cases where the offense is not as severe.",
  "summary": "While the WA government has announced plans to ban character references in criminal cases, the state's chief justice says references can help judges better understand an offender's prospects of rehabilitation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "Restricting character evidence threatens to deprive judges of essential insights into an offender's rehabilitation prospects and support systems during the sentencing process.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}