District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been directed to stand down from criminal matters following a disagreement with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions won an appeal after it emerged that Wass had sent and received undisclosed text messages with lawyers linked to proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the top prosecutor resulted in her disqualification.

The matter has drawn attention in Sydney legal circles as a rare public clash between a sitting judge and the state prosecution authority. The dispute was characterised as a sharp disagreement before the top prosecutor won the appeal.