District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been ordered to stand down from criminal matters following a dispute with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully appealed after it became known that Wass had exchanged undisclosed messages with lawyers linked to proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the top prosecutor resulted in her disqualification.

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 characterised as a sharp disagreement before the top prosecutor secured the ruling.