A 53-year-old man accused of lighting up to four bushfires in north Queensland will undergo a mental health assessment, after a dramatic arrest where he allegedly rammed a police car and officers fired shots at his vehicle.

Prosecutor Stephen Robson says he does not accept the version of events given to police by Mr Deighton that he went to answer the door while changing baby Michael, returned to find him falling from the change table and then caught him.

A man accused of manslaughter and unlawful sexual intercourse with a baby will argue there is no proof of any crimes alleged against him, an Alice Springs court hears.

Amber Holt, who is accused of throwing an egg at Scott Morrison during a CWA meeting in Albury earlier this month, pleads guilty to possessing a prohibited drug but her lawyer says a charge of common assault requires "further representation".

A man who was shot by police in northern Victoria last week, after he and his brother allegedly threatened officers with a knife and a tomahawk, appears in court charged with assaulting police.

Murderer Michael Cardamone, who tortured and callously killed Victorian woman Karen Chetcuti-Verbunt in 2016, has his life jail term upheld by appeal judges who say the "dreadful punishment" is fit for "a dreadful crime".

Victims of a bushfire almost a decade ago are set to receive millions of dollars in compensation following a ruling by the High Court.

In their ruling, the three Court of Appeals judges say a couple who were inside the home had not done anything to "revoke or negate" the implied right for police to walk up their footpath and approach the door.

A judge finds "extraordinary" flaws in the environment watchdog's decision not to require a formal impact assessment on a bid to clear 20,000 hectares of native vegetation on a cattle station south of Darwin, but steers clear of arguments over climate change.

Documents tendered in the Northern Territory Supreme Court allege the five-storey complex in Darwin which is now advertised as "the epitome of waterfront living" almost collapsed before its completion in 2017.

A mother of three, alleged to have been behind the wheel of a car when it crashed, killing her young son and friend, tells Darwin Local Court she's yet to seek legal advice to face a string of "serious charges".

Alexandros Deligiannis, the man police believe was the original target of Darwin's June mass shooting, faces court charged with three driving offences including driving with a prohibited drug in the body.

The Supreme Court of Victoria dismisses a bid by union boss John Setka to stop a vote to have him expelled from the Australian Labor Party, with the court ruling it does not have the jurisdiction to decide the matter.

It would end in the High Court, but it began as an agreement between two friends. Robert donated his sperm to conceive a child with his friend Susan, but when she and her wife decided to move overseas, everything changed.

Victorian prosecutors say there is no justification for the High Court to grant special leave for Cardinal George Pell to appeal against his child sexual abuse convictions.

A Canberra man was told by a trio of kidnappers that his genitals would be cut off and that he would "die" for an alleged debt of $450 that he used to send to his family in Africa, a court has heard.

Haider Ali, 37, is returned to Australia to face court after he fled the country while on trial for sexual offences two years ago.

A Federal Court judge finds the Registered Organisations Commission's investigation into donations made to the activist group in 2006 when former opposition leader Bill Shorten was leading the union was not politically motivated, but it was launched on a "flawed"basis.

Three people charged with female genital mutilation offences could face further punishment after the High Court ruled a NSW court erred in quashing their convictions.Warning: This story contains graphic details.

It will take a test case a Canberra smoker who police decide to arrest and charge to determine what the law actually is.

Three accused Rebels bikies who appealed to the High Court to overturn an order preventing them from associating with one another have lost their bid, clearing the way for the NSW Police Commissioner to impose strict restraints on them, including a curfew and restricted mobile phone possession.

A 27-year-old man arrested over a dramatic shooting in Canberra yesterday, has faced the ACT Magistrates Court on nine charges, including shooting at a woman and trying to steal her car.

Matthew Ross White pleads not guilty to the murder of Donna Steele, as the Supreme Court in Cairns hears her killing occurred when she fought back during a botched extortion bid.

An estimated 75,000 backpackers working, or that have worked in Australia, could be back-paid hundreds of millions of dollars after the Federal Court ruled the so-called backpacker tax invalid.

A father who threatened to kill a Federal Circuit Court Judge in a late night, expletive-laden phone call walks free from a Far North Queensland court.

Neighbours star Scott McGregor testifies in court about a stripper who allegedly glassed him in a club on Queensland's Gold Coast but denies talking to her in an abusive way.

Millionaire Gold Coast businessman and self-described "philanthropist" John Chardon tells a Brisbane court he sometimes had sex with students he sponsored, but says he never "intentionally" hurt his wife, Novy.

A Tamil family facing deportation is given until Friday to consider a "surprise" development in their case, after the Immigration Minister said he would not exercise his discretion to allow the youngest daughter to stay in Australia.

The family at the heart of the "Home To Bilo" campaign will remain in Australia for at least another 24 hours as a legal argument about the immigration assessment of two-year-old Tharnicaa continues.

She's been described as "the friendliest dog in the world", but Lucy was rejected by three families before she found her forever home. The affectionate labrador is now helping others face their own stressful situations.

A patent application has been granted which Meat and Livestock Australia fears will have a chilling effect on genomic research in Australia's cattle industries.

Police are describing a deceased baby boy's injuries as 'horrific' and 'horrendous' following his death on Sunday. A 28-year-old man has been charged with murder and reckless grievous bodily harm.

The father of murder victim Danielle Easey says he is waiting to come face-to-face with the man accused of the violent death of his daughter whose body was found wrapped in plastic and dumped in a Newcastle creek.

John Burrows died at his mother's garage in Portland near Lithgow in 2015, with a bomb expert telling his murder trial he had never seen a device like the one used to kill the 58-year-old.

What goes on inside a busy NSW local court from police pursuits to a letter from jail to a stolen vibrator.

A Facebook post offers what appears to be a fictitious excerpt from a real Supreme Court ruling to claim that COVID-19 emergency measures are illegal.

(California Court of Appeal) - In a dispute arising out of a written agreement between a content producer-plaintiff and a television station-defendant, involving website material plaintiff created that was to be distributed to the websites of certain television stations affiliated with defendant in other cities, alleging the common law tort of misappropriation of name and likeness, defendant's petition for writ of mandate is granted where the trial court erred in denying summary judgment to defendant because based on the broad consent in the agreement, plaintiffs cannot prove lack of consent to the manner in which defendant used plaintiff's material.

(California Court of Appeal) - Writ issued and trial court directed to grant Defendant's motion. Defendant sought to have the complaint against him dismissed for failure to conduct a preliminary examination within 60 days. Trial court denied the motion, but Appeals court held the 60-day rule is absolute and there was no evidence that supported tolling the rule.

(Supreme Court of California) - A prosecutor in a criminal case has a duty to disclose to the defense information that they personally know and information that they can learn about that is favorable to the accused. This obligation to disclose even includes restricted information about law enforcement officers. A law enforcement agency may disclose to the prosecution identifying information about an office and relevant exonerating or impeaching material in a confidential personnel file.

With a knack for defence and a focus on team play, Yasmin Halas has a promising future on the netball court.

(California Court of Appeal) - Held that the superior court did not err in denying a motion to set aside an indictment. The defendant in this case alleging that medical clinics fraudulently billed insurance companies argued that the indictment failed to provide constitutionally adequate notice of the charges against him and also improperly aggregated multiple acts into single counts. Rejecting his arguments, the Fourth Appellate District held that there was no basis for issuing a writ of prohibition directing the indictment to be set aside.

(California Court of Appeal) - Petition for writ of mandate is denied. Remanded to consider restitution. Los Angeles County filed a misdemeanor criminal complaint against SoCalGas for a natural gas leak that continued for months and caused damage to residents. The criminal charges were resolved by a plea agreement, where a no contest plea was entered to the charge of failure to immediately report gas leak. Plaintiffs sought to set aside plea agreement and seek restitution under the California Constitution. The appeals court held that victims do not have a right to appeal a criminal case judgment, but they do have a right to restitution. However, restitution is only available for crimes where there is an actual conviction.

(California Court of Appeal) - Vacated. Plaintiff, the heir of an employee who was killed in a work place accident, filed a complaint alleging that the employer did not have workers compensation insurance. The employer filed a demurrer and sought adjudication with the Workers Compensation Board. The trial court stayed the civil case to allow the WCAB to decide the issue. The Appeals court held that when a civil action and a workers’ compensation proceeding are concurrently pending, the tribunal first assuming jurisdiction should have exclusive jurisdiction. The trial court erred by staying the civil case and the WCAB erred by proceeding without deference to the trial court. Order staying civil case is vacated and WCAB proceedings stayed.