District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been directed to stand down from criminal matters following a dispute with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions successfully appealed after it emerged that Wass had exchanged undisclosed text messages with lawyers linked to proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the top prosecutor led to her removal.

The matter has attracted notice in Sydney legal circles as an unusual public clash between a bench member and the state prosecution authority. The dispute was characterised as a sharp disagreement before the top prosecutor won the appeal.