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Associate Professor David Hamer

Profile

Degrees

BSc LLB(Hons) ANU PhD Melbourne


Courses Taught

  • Civil and Criminal Procedure
  • Evidence
  • The Element of Causation


Areas of Interest

  • Evidence and Proof
  • Criminal Law and Theory
  • Causation
  • Legal Method
  • Statutory Interpretation
  • Torts
  • Legal Theory


Brief Biographical Detail

David Hamer's primary research interest is in the law of evidence. He takes an interdisciplinary approach, interrogating the law - and the proof process more broadly - using tools drawn from probability theory, narrative theory and psychology. His interest in evidence law often flows over into areas of substantive law and broader issues, in particular law's continuing struggle with the notion of causation, criminal justice, and the causes of and solutions to wrongful convictions.

Publications

Books | Book Chapters | Journal Articles | Case Notes, Minor Articles, Comments | Conference Papers | Media Appearance | Law Reform Submissions | Other

Books

  • Cook, C, Creyke, R, Geddes, R & Hamer, D, Laying Down the Law, LexisNexis: Sydney (6th edition 2005) (7th edition 2009) (9th edition 2012)
  • Hamer, D and Kumar, M, (guest editors) '21st Century Challenges in Evidence Law', (2011) 33(3) Sydney Law Review (special edition) 325-598
  • Butt, P & Hamer, D (eds), Concise Australian Law Dictionary (4th edition), LexisNexis: Australia (2011)

Book Chapters

  • Hamer, D, ‘Delayed Complaint, Lost Evidence and Fair Trial: Epistemic and Non-epistemic Concerns’ in P Roberts and J Hunter (eds), Criminal Evidence and Human Rights: Reimagining Common Law Procedural Traditions, Hart Publishing (2012) 215-237
  • Edmond, G & Hamer, D, ‘Evidence Law’ in P Cane & H Kritzer (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Empirical Legal Research, Oxford University Press: New York (2010) 652-678
  • Hamer, D & Hunter, D, 'Probability and story-telling: Normative and descriptive models of juridicial proof' in H Prakken, Muntjewerff, AJ and Soeteman, A (eds), Legal Knowledge Based Systems: The Relation with Legal Theory, Koninklijke Vermande By: Lelystad (1994)

Journal Articles

  • Hamer, D, ‘Probability, Anti-resilience, and the weight of expectation’ (2012) 11 Law, Probability and Risk 135-158
  • Hamer, D, ‘The R v T controversy: Forensic evidence, law and logic’ (2012) 11 Law, Probability and Risk 331-345
  • Hamer, D, ‘A Dynamic Reconstruction of the Presumption of Innocence’ (2011) 31(2) Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 417-435
  • Hamer, D, 'Trying Delays: Forensic Disadvantage in Child Sexual Assault Trials' (2010) Criminal Law Review 671-689
  • Edmond, G, Kemp, R, Porter, G, Hamer, D, Burton, M, Biber, K & San Roque, M, ‘Atkins v The Emperor: The “Cautious” use of Unreliable “Expert” Opinion’ (2010) 14(2) The International Journal of Evidence & Proof 146-166
  • Hamer, D, ‘Mind the “Evidential Gap”: Causation and Proof in Amaca v Ellis’ (2009) 31 Sydney Law Review 465-485
  • Hamer, D, 'The Expectation of Incorrect Acquittals and The New and Compelling Evidence Exception to Double Jeopardy' (2009) 2 Criminal Law Review 63-79
  • Hamer, D, 'Admissibility and Use of Relationship Evidence in HML v The Queen: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back' (2008) 32(December) Criminal Law Journal 351-367
  • Hamer, D, 'Similar Fact Reasoning in Phillips: Artificial, Disjointed and Pernicious' (2007) 30(3) University of New South Wales Law Journal 609-638
  • Hamer, D, 'The Presumption of Innocence and Reverse Burdens: A Balancing Act' (2007) 66(1) Cambridge Law Journal 142-171
  • Hamer, D, 'The Truth Will Out? Incoherence and Scepticism in Foundations of Evidence Law' (2007) 70(2) Modern Law Review 318-338
  • Hamer, D & Scudder, N, 'Exclusionary DNA of Forensic Workers and Australian Forensic Procedures Legislation' (2006) 18(1)Current Issues in Criminal Justice 125-146
  • Hamer, D, 'Keating v Morris; Leck v Morris: Politics and Procedure in the Dr Death Inquiry' (2006) 25(1) University of Queensland Law Journal 131-143
  • Hamer, D, 'Probabilistic Standards of Proof, Their Complements, and the Errors That Are Expected to Flow from Them' (2004) 1(1) University of New England Law Journal 71-107
  • Hamer, D, 'The Privilege of Silence and the Persistent Risk of Self-Incrimination: Part I' (2004) 28 Criminal Law Journal 160-178
  • Hamer, D, 'The Privilege of Silence and the Persistent Risk of Self-Incrimination: Part II' (2004) 28 Criminal Law Journal 200-216
  • Hamer, D, 'The Structure and Strength of the Propensity Inference: Singularity, Linkage and the Other Evidence' (2003) 29(1) Monash University Law Review 137-196
  • Hamer, D, 'Hoist with His Own Petard? Guilty Lies and Ironic Inferences in Criminal Proof' (2001) 54 Current Legal Problems 377-413
  • Hamer, D, '"Chance Would Be a Fine Thing"; Proof of Causation and Quantum in an Unpredictable World' (1999) 23 Melbourne University Law Review 557-634
  • Hamer, D, 'The Continuing Saga of the Chamberlain Direction: Untangling the Cables and Chains of Criminal Proof' (1997) 23 Monash University Law Review 43-76
  • Hamer, D, 'The Civil Standard of Proof Uncertainty: Probability, Belief and Justice' (1994) 16 Sydney Law Review

Case Notes, Minor Articles, Comments

  • Edmond, G, Hamer, D, and Ligertwood, A, ‘Expert evidence after Morgan, Wood and Gilham’ (2012) 112 Precedent 28-35
  • Hamer, D, 'Factual Causation and Material Contribution' (2011) 105 Precedent 29-32
  • Hamer, D, '21st Century Challenges in Evidence Law' (2011) 33(3) Sydney Law Review 325-332
  • Hamer, D, 'Review of Philosophy of Evidence Law by Ho Hock Lai' (2009) 13 International Journal of Evidence and Proof 55-59
  • Hamer, D, '(Dys)functional Double Jeopardy Reform in Queensland' (2008) 19(1) Public Law Review 12-20
  • Hamer, D, 'Ferguson: A Fair Trial and Other Issues' (2008) 28(9) Proctor 33-34
  • Hamer, D, 'Does Silence Imply Guilt?' (2006) 72 Precedent 4-7
  • Hamer, D, 'Cattanach v Melchlor: Principle, Policy and Judicial Activism' (2004) 1 University of New England Law Journal 225-238

Conferences Papers

  • Hamer, D, 'The probative value of DNA evidence: "Mathematical equivalence" between different forms of expression', Impressions and Expressions: Expert Evidence in Reports and Courts, Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences, Sydney, 3-4 December 2011
  • Hamer, D, 'A probabilistic model of the relationship between the quantity (weight) of evidence, and its strength', AI and Evidence Workshop, International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Law, Pittsburgh, USA, 10 June 2011
  • Hamer, D, ‘Factual Causation, Scope of Liability and Material Contribution: Some Recent Developments’, Law Society of NSW 2011 Specialist Accreditation Conference, Wollongong, 27 and 28 May 2011
  • Hamer, D, 'Delayed Child Sexual Assault Prosecutions: Epistemic and Non-Epistemic Concerns', 21st Century Challenges in Evidence Law: International and Comparative Perspectives, Sydney, 24-25 September 2010
  • Hamer, D, ‘The fair trial of delayed child sexual assault prosecutions’, Society of Legal Scholars Seminar: Criminal Evidence and Human Rights, Nottingham University, UK, 9-10 September 2010
  • Hamer, D, ‘Trying delays: A balanced response to forensic disadvantage’, Criminal Evidence and Human Rights: Common Law Perspectives, University of New South Wales, 9-10 April 2010
  • Hamer, D, ‘The admissibility and use of relationship and propensity evidence after HML v The Queen’, Current Legal Issues Seminar, Qld SC Banco Court, 30 July 2009
  • Hamer, D, ‘The admissibility of torture-obtained evidence’, Cardozo Journal of International and Comparative Law Colloquium on Criminal Proof, New York, January 2009
  • Hamer, D, 'The Expectation of Mistaken Acquittals and the Potential of Double Jeopardy Reform', Federal Criminal Justice Forum, Canberra, September 2008
  • Hamer, D, 'Probabilistic Presumption of Innocence', Seminar, Southampton University Law School, 12 June 2007
  • Hamer, D, 'Probabilistic Presumption of Innocence', Seminar, Warwick University Law School, June 2007
  • Hamer, D, 'Probative but Still Too Prejudicial? Rethinking the Admissibility of Propensity Evidence', Jury Practice and Research Conference, Parliament House, NSW, 12 December 2007
  • Hamer, D, 'Similar Facts After Stone: Functions, Forces and Forms', Julius Stone Conference, Sydney University, 5-7 July 2007
  • Hamer, D, N Scudder, 'Staff DNA Databases Under Australian Legislation', 18th International Symposium on the Forensic Sciences, Fremantle, Western Australia, 2-7 April 2006
  • Hamer, D, 'The Logic of the Similar Fact Inference and Phillips', Supreme Court Seminar, June 2007
  • Hamer, D, 'DNA Evidence', Continuing Legal Education Seminar, 2005
  • Hamer, D, 'Probabilistic Causation and Construction Contracts', Evans & Peck Pty. Ltd., 2005
  • Hamer, D, 'Reverse Burdens and the Presumption of Innocence', Kirby Seminar Series, University of New England Law School, 2005
  • Hamer, D, '"Bedrock, axiomatic and elementary": The Constitutional Necessity of the Presumption of Innocence and Proof of Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt, and Exceptions Thereto', Kirby Seminar Series, University of New England Law School, 2003
  • Hamer, D, '"Hoist with his own Petard"? Guilty Lies and Ironic Inferences in Criminal Proof', Seminar, University College London Law School, 2001
  • Hamer, D, '"Hoist with his own Petard"? Guilty Lies and Ironic Inferences in Criminal Proof', Seminar, Nottingham University Law School, 2001
  • Hamer, D, 'Narrative Coherence and Proof in Crime Fiction', International Conference of Law and Literature, La Trobe University, 1999
  • Hamer, D, 'Cables and Chains of Criminal Proof', Seminar, Australian National University Law School, 1997
  • Hamer, D, 'Modelling Juridical Proof', Seminar, Melbourne University Law School, 1994
  • Hamer, D, D Hunter, 'Probability and story-telling: Normative and descriptive models of juridical proof', JURIX 94 Conference, Amsterdam, December 1994
  • Hamer, D, 'Psychological and mathematical perspectives on the civil standard of proof', Continuing Legal Education Series, University of Wollongong Law School, 1993

Media Appearances

Law Reform Submissions

Other

  • May 2012, Panel Discussion: "Is civil disobedience only for the intelligentsia?", Sydney Writer's Festival
  • May 2012, Expert Panel, 'Truth, testimony, relevance: improving the quality of evidence in sexual offence cases', National Symposium held by Australian Institute of Criminology, Australian Institute of Family Studies and Victoria Police