District Court Judge Penelope Wass has been directed to stand down from criminal cases following a dispute with the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Director of Public Prosecutions won an appeal after it became known that Wass had exchanged undisclosed text messages with lawyers linked to proceedings. The conflict between the judge and the prosecution head led to her removal.

The matter has drawn attention in Sydney legal circles as a rare public clash between a bench member and the state prosecution authority. The dispute was described as a bitter feud before the top prosecutor won the appeal.