District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been instructed to step aside from criminal matters following a disagreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions won an appeal after it became known that Wass had exchanged undisclosed messages with lawyers involved in proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the top prosecutor resulted in her disqualification.

The matter has drawn attention 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.