On 4 June 2018, Asian Australian Lawyers Association and Melbourne Law School Asia Law Centre co-hosted Judge Yuri Takemura’s presentation on “Expert Evidence in Australia and Japan”. The event was well attended by members of the AALA, and students and representatives from Melbourne University.

Judge Takemura is from Yokohama District Court in Japan. She was a visiting scholar at the Melbourne Law School under the Overseas Training Programme of the Supreme Court of Japan (June 2017 – June 2018). The programme provides judges with an opportunity to gain insights on the administration of justice through comprehensive research on foreign jurisdictions.

Judge Takemura provided a very detailed and informative comparative analysis between how legal practitioners and our courts deal with expert evidence in Australia and Japan. The analysis included the advantages, the limitations and suggestions to improve the processes in Japan.

Judge Takemura has been a strong supporter of AALA during her stay in Melbourne, and has often participated in events organised by the AALA. The AALA wishes her well and all the best with her future endeavours upon her return to Japan.