District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been ordered to stand down from criminal cases following a disagreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions won an appeal after it emerged that Wass had exchanged undisclosed messages with lawyers linked to proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the prosecution head resulted in her removal.

The matter has attracted notice in Sydney legal circles as an unusual public clash between a bench member and the state prosecuting body. The dispute was described as a bitter feud before the top prosecutor secured the ruling.