District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been directed to step aside from criminal cases following a dispute with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions won an appeal after it emerged that Wass had sent and received undisclosed messages with lawyers involved in proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the prosecution head resulted in her removal.

The matter has attracted notice in Sydney legal circles as an unusual public clash between a sitting judge and the state prosecuting body. The dispute was described as a bitter feud before the top prosecutor won the appeal.