The Court of Appeal dismissed appeals by a self-represented litigant who alleged apprehended bias and procedural unfairness arising from the trial judge's refusal of an adjournment, the judge's prior professional acquaintance with the respondent's solicitor, and the judge's use of the word 'humbug' and active case management during trial. Applying Ebner v Official Trustee in Bankruptcy and Johnson v Johnson, the Court held that none of these matters, individually or cumulatively, would cause a fair-minded lay observer to reasonably apprehend that the judge did not bring an impartial mind to the case. The appeal against the indemnity costs order was held to be incompetent for want of leave under s 253 of the Supreme Court Act 1995 (Qld).
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