Strategic litigation, searchable.
77 cases across 14 issue areas. Filter by topic, outcome, or precedent strength. Each profile is a starting point for adaptation, not a finishing line.
- Northern Territory, Australia· 2014· NT Children's CommissionerpendingHigh precedent
NT Tear Gas Incident — Don Dale (2014)
Use of tear gas on children in detention
don-dalenttear-gasuse-of-force - Western Australia, Australia· 2013· High Court of AustraliapendingHigh precedent
Munda v Western Australia (2013) HCA 38
Proportionality in sentencing Aboriginal offenders
aboriginalhcaproportionalitysentencing - Australia (National)· 2013· High Court of AustraliafavorableHigh precedent
Bugmy v The Queen (2013) HCA 37
Consideration of Aboriginal disadvantage in sentencing
aboriginal-disadvantagebugmy-principleshcasentencing - Hong Kong· 2013· Hong Kong Court of Final AppealfavorableHigh precedent
C v Director of Immigration [2013] HKCFA 21; (2013) 16 HKCFAR 280 (FACV 18-20/2011)
Whether the duty to assess risk before removal extends beyond torture to a well-founded fear of persecution, when UNHCR (not the government) conducts refugee status determination in Hong Kong.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementtorture (CAT) - Hong Kong· 2012· Hong Kong Court of Final AppealfavorableHigh precedent
Ubamaka Edward Wilson v Secretary for Security (2012) 15 HKCFAR 743; [2012] HKCFA 87
Whether the protection against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment (article 3 of the Bill of Rights Ordinance, reflecting ICCPR article 7) is absolute, and whether the Director must assess that risk before removal.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementtorture (CAT) - European Court of Human Rights· 2012· ECtHR (Grand Chamber)favorableHigh precedent
Hirsi Jamaa and Others v Italy (GC), App No 27765/09
High-seas pushbacks; extraterritorial jurisdiction; collective expulsion
asylumcollective-expulsionextraterritorial-jurisdictionpushbacksrefugee - Australia (National)· 2011· High Court of AustraliafavorableHigh precedent
Plaintiff M70/2011 v Minister for Immigration ('Malaysia Solution')
Offshore transfer to non-signatory 'safe country'; statutory preconditions
asylumoffshore-processingrefugeestatutory-authoritythird-country-transfers - United Kingdom / EU context· 2011· CJEU (Grand Chamber)favorableHigh precedent
N.S. v SSHD; M.E. and Others v Refugee Applications Commissioner (Joined Cases C-411/10 & C-493/10)
Dublin transfers; systemic deficiencies test; suspending transfers
asylumdublin-transfersnon-refoulementrefugeesystemic-deficiencies - European Court of Human Rights· 2011· ECtHR (Grand Chamber)favorableHigh precedent
M.S.S. v Belgium and Greece (GC), App No 30696/09
Dublin transfer to Greece; reception & detention conditions; effective remedy
asylumdetention-conditionsdublin-transferseffective-remedyrefugee - Hong Kong· 2004· Hong Kong Court of Final AppealfavorableHigh precedent
Secretary for Security v Sakthevel Prabakar (2004) 7 HKCFAR 187
Standard of fairness required when the government assesses whether removing a person would expose them to a risk of torture (non-refoulement under the Convention against Torture).
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementtorture (CAT) - Australia (National)· 2004· High Court of AustraliaadverseHigh precedent
Al-Kateb v Godwin [2004] HCA 37
Whether a stateless person who cannot be removed from Australia may be detained indefinitely under the Migration Act.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionindefinite detention - Australia (National)· 2001· Federal Court of Australia (Full Court)adverseHigh precedent
Ruddock v Vadarlis [2001] FCA 1329 (the Tampa case)
Whether the Commonwealth executive had power, absent statutory authority, to detain and remove asylum seekers rescued by the MV Tampa and prevent them entering Australia.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionexecutive power+1 - Australia (National)· 1997· Human Rights CommissionfavorableHigh precedentnational inquiry
Bringing Them Home - Stolen Generations
National Inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal children from families. Foundational understanding of intergenerational trauma driving justice contact.
child-removalindigenous-rightsintergenerational-traumastolen-generations - International (UN Human Rights Committee)· 1997· UN Human Rights CommitteefavorableHigh precedent
A v Australia, Communication No. 560/1993, UN Doc CCPR/C/59/D/560/1993
Whether prolonged mandatory immigration detention of an asylum seeker (over three years) breached the prohibition on arbitrary detention and the right to judicial review of detention under ICCPR article 9.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionarbitrary detention+1 - United States· 1993· US Supreme CourtadverseHigh precedent
Sale v Haitian Centers Council, 509 U.S. 155 (1993)
High-seas interdiction; scope of non-refoulement under INA & Refugee Convention
asylumextraterritorial-jurisdictionnon-refoulementpushbacksrefugee - Australia (National)· 1991· Royal CommissionfavorableHigh precedentroyal commission
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
339 recommendations to address systemic causes of Aboriginal deaths in custody. Found deaths were caused by overrepresentation in custody, not conditions alone.
deaths-in-custodyindigenous-rightssystemic-reform - Canada· 1985· Supreme Court of CanadafavorableHigh precedent
Singh v Minister of Employment and Immigration, [1985] 1 SCR 177
Charter s.7 & s.2(e) 'everyone' includes asylum seekers; oral hearing rights
asylumconstitutional-protectionsdue-processhearing-rightsrefugee