Rory Pettit

Admitted as a legal practitioner in 2011
Admitted as a barrister in 2020

Principal areas of practice

• Criminal law
• Children’s criminal law
• Appellate law
• Commissions of inquiry and inquest

Rory Pettit specialises in criminal law.
 
He has appeared in complex criminal trials and appeals, including precedent-setting cases involving statutory interpretation and drug law. Rory has also contributed commentary on criminal law issues including police powers, wrongful convictions, and evidence law.
 
He was recognised in 2026 as a leading junior in ‘Crime and regulatory (including white-collar crime)' by Legal 500. 
 
Prior to joining the Bar, Rory gained extensive criminal law experience as a trial advocate with the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Ltd in Newcastle and the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency in Darwin.
 
Rory holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Sydney, where he was awarded the Walter Reid Memorial Prize for academic achievement.

Professional background

• Trial advocate, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Ltd—Newcastle
• Trial advocate, North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency—Darwin
• Committal solicitor, Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Ltd—Sydney
• Solicitor, private criminal practice—Sydney

 
Academic

• Bachelor of Law (Hons)—Sydney University
• Bachelor of Arts (Hons)—Sydney University (Walter Reid Memorial prize for academic achievement)

 
Cases

• Hong v R [2026] NSWCCA 64 - sentence appeal in which error established about failure to assess prospects of rehabilitation

• R v Parsons (a pseudonym) [2024] NSWDC 578 - exclusion of unlawfully obtained mobile phone evidence (prosecution later discontinued). ​

 

• R v Nean [2023] NSWDC 34 — exclusion of ERISP due to police impropriety (prosecution later discontinued)

 

• Jenkinson v R  [2024] NSWCCA 34 - conviction appeal relating to statutory interpretation of the Drug (Misuse and Trafficking) Act 1985

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• ​R v Bridger [2022] NSWCCA 125 — appeal asserting unreasonable verdict (led by P Boulten SC)

 

• R v Morley [2021] NSWDC 681 – exclusion of unlawfully obtained evidence

 

• State of New South Wales v MAK [2021] NSWSC 875—successful opposition to State application for extended supervision order 


• R v Tsakirios [2021] NSWDC 461 – Successful application for costs following Crown’s discontinuation of criminal proceedings

 

• R v Dale Donnelly (NSW District Court, Norton J, 19 December 2019)—exclusion of unlawfully obtained evidence (prosecution later discontinued)

 

• Hall v Rigby [2018] NTCA 12—appeal asserting unsafe and unsatisfactory conviction

 

• R v Collins (No 2) [2017] NTSC 12—exclusion of unfairly prejudicial evidence from trial 

 

• Lantjin v Phipps [2017] NTSC 39—successful appeal against sentence establishing legal error at first instance 

 

• Andreou v Martin [2016] NTMC 006—exclusion from hearing of identification evidence 

 

• TS v Constable Courtney James [2014] NSWSC 984—appeal establishing applicability of Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) to forensic procedure applications (appeared at first instance, assisted on appeal)

 
Papers and publications

• "Prescribed Places, Hells Angels, and Procedural Fairness" article written for the NSW Bar Association's "Bar News" publication, Summer 2023.

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• "Mercy in the time of COVID-19", article written for the NSW Bar Association's "Bar News" publication, Winter 2020.

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• ‘Can Police Search Mobile Phones Without a Warrant?’, presented at the Criminal Lawyers Association of the NT 17th biennial conference on 29 June 2019.

 

• ‘Social Media Identification and IMM’, presented at the Reasonable Cause Conference on 20 March 2019. Paper hosted by Criminal CPD at criminalcpd.net.au

 

• ‘Bail Act 2013—Case Notes and Links’ (with Jeremy Styles). Hosted by Criminal CPD at criminalcpd.net.au

For further details or enquiries regarding Rory Pettit’s areas of expertise, fees and terms of engagement please contact his Clerk.


CONTACT HERE