Thomas Spohr Explained

Thomas Spohr
Education:Bachelor of Law (Honours), Bachelor of Arts
Alma Mater:University of Wollongong
Occupation:Solicitor
Employer:NSW Legal Aid
Organization:Law Society of New South Wales
Boards:Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, Law Society of New South Wales

Thomas Spohr is an Australian solicitor with NSW Legal Aid and former prosecutor. He was an appointed councillor of the Law Society of New South Wales (representing NSW Young Lawyers),[1] and was President of NSW Young Lawyers in 2014.[2] Spohr is a board member of the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation,[3] [4] and a member of the Legal Profession Admission Board Legal Qualifications Committee,[5] which is charged with accrediting law degrees in New South Wales. He was the chair of the New South Wales Young Lawyers Criminal Law Committee for over three years and Treasurer of NSW Young Lawyers in 2011.[6]

Education

Spohr obtained his law degree from the University of Wollongong, graduating in Arts and Law (with Honours) in 2006.[7] [8]

Career

Spohr was a prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (New South Wales), then briefly at the Commonwealth DPP, before joining NSW Legal Aid in 2016. He has been involved in widely reported cases, including the $45.3 million fraud by Rajina Subramaniam (said to be one of the largest by an individual in Australia's history),[9] the prosecution of Katherine Abdallah for the murder of her cousin, Suzie Sarkis,[10] [11] and the appeal by Carnita Matthews against her conviction for a traffic offence allegedly committed whilst wearing a burqa.[12] [13] Spohr worked in private practice at one stage, appearing for Andrew Jones, a person of interest in the high-profile coronial inquiry into the disappearance of Janine Vaughan.[14] [15]

Public references to works

Spohr writes and comments regularly on law reform issues, and has been cited by authorities including the New South Wales Law Reform Commission in its Interim report on standard minimum non-parole periods,[16] and in New South Wales Parliament.[17] He has been critical of government policy, for example an article titled "Mandatory Sentencing: It Ought To Be Passed In At The Law And Order Auction”, in response to New South Wales legislation targeting alcohol-related violence,[18] and in an interview for Kill Your Darlings on the same topic.[19]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Current Councillors. Law Society of New South Wales. Law Society of New South Wales. 9 June 2015. Spohr1.
  2. Web site: Current Office Bearers . Law Society of NSW . 10 June 2015 . Spohr2 . NSW Young Lawyers.
  3. Web site: Who We Are . 23 June 2015 . Spohr3 . Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation.
  4. News: This is the depression we don’t have to have . Lawyers Weekly . 13 May 2013 . 23 June 2015 . Justin . Whealing . Spohr4.
  5. Web site: Members of the Legal Profession Admission Board and its Committees . Legal Profession Admission Board . 23 June 2015 . Spohr5.
  6. Susskind. Anne. Making their mark. LSJ (Law Society Journal). February 2014. 16.
  7. Web site: Thomas Spohr Profile . University of Wollongong . 23 June 2015 . Spohr7 . Alumni Profiles.
  8. News: UOW Graduate Snags Influential Law Post . University of Wollongong News . 3 December 2013 . 23 June 2015 . Spohr8.
  9. News: Bibby. Paul. Sentence cut for $43m fraud. 23 June 2015. Sydney Morning Herald. 3 July 2013.
  10. News: Carson. Vanda. Susan Sarkis' family yell at judge after he grants Katherine Abdallah bail. 23 June 2015. The Daily Telegraph. 13 June 2013.
  11. News: Carson. Vanda. Dale. Amy. Court sees moment a young life ebbed away. 23 June 2015. The Australian / The Daily Telegraph. 4 April 2013.
  12. News: Burqa battle takes new turn. 23 June 2015. Sydney Morning Herald. AAP. 17 September 2011.
  13. News: Woman in NSW burqa case seeking costs after appealing her conviction. 23 June 2015. The Daily Telegraph. AAP. 16 September 2011.
  14. News: Carroll. Jacinta. No evidence, no charges. 23 June 2015. Western Advocate. 21 September 2009.
  15. News: Ralston. Nick. Family still seeking truth. 23 June 2015. Sydney Morning Herald. 16 September 2012.
  16. Web site: Interim report on standard minimum non-parole periods [2012] NSWLRC 134 ]. 23 June 2015 . NSW Law Reform Commission . 13.
  17. Web site: Inquiry into judge alone trials under s.132 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. NSW Legislative Council, Standing Committee on Law and Justice. 23 June 2015.
  18. 23 June 2015 . LSJ (Law Society Journal) . July 2014 . Thomas . Spohr . Mandatory Sentencing: It Ought To Be Passed In At The Law And Order Auction . 70.
  19. News: Potter. Alexandra. Lockup or Lockout: The NSW Government’s Response to Alcohol-Related Violence. 23 June 2015. Kill Your Darlings. 3 February 2015.

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