A Supreme Court judge accused of assault and emotional abuse or intimidation is set to face a July hearing after his lawyer’s bid for more time to work on a defence was denied.
Tasmanian Justice Gregory Geason, who was charged in December, made his third appearance in Hobart Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Geason is accused of assaulting a person on October 31 by grabbing their arms and squeezing, shaking them and striking them with his hand.
He is also accused of emotionally abusing and intimidating a person between April and November, including by tracking their movements.
Geason, whose bail was continued, previously pleaded not guilty to one count of emotional abuse or intimidation and one count of common assault.
His lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi said downloaded information from Geason’s phone had only been provided to him by police prosecutors on Monday and Tuesday.
Cangelosi said he had been waiting on the critical information for months and required it to begin hearing preparations.
He also said Geason had made notes on the phone during the “unfolding of events” in the contemplation there might be legal proceedings.
He said Magistrate Jackie Hartnett’s desire for a July hearing was too soon and a senior lawyer who had already begun work on the “complex” case was not available until October.
Cangelosi said he had expected a date later than July and October was not far.
Hartnett set down July 15 to 23 for the hearing, saying a 10-week preparation was reasonable.
“You’re entitled to competent counsel, not necessarily counsel of your choice,” she said.
“(We) also have to be mindful there is another person waiting for the resolution of this matter.”
The process for Tasmania’s attorney-general to appoint a temporary magistrate from interstate to hear the case was underway, Hartnett said.
Geason, who took leave from his position in November, didn’t speak to media as he left court.
He has given a written undertaking he will not seek or attempt to exercise the powers of a judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania while the criminal proceedings are ongoing.
Among the allegations, Geason is accused of coercing the person into establishing a shared phone account to gain access to their electronic records.
It is also alleged he subjected the person to verbal abuse, made remarks about their professional and personal life, and persistently yelled and screamed.
Geason is expected to return to court on June 5 for an administrative mention.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
