FORMER Border Mail court reporter Mark Mulcahy has been lauded by a NSW District Court judge for his "impeccable, accurate and fair" writing.
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The plaudits from Judge Gordon Lerve came at a ceremonial sitting held at the Albury courthouse to recognise Mulcahy's retirement after nearly 40 years at The Border Mail.
The last 25 years saw him specialise in court reporting, covering countless pleas, trials, sentences and appeals.
Family watched on from the jury box as Judge Lerve praised Mulcahy.
"Mark's reporting has always been completely responsible and it always complied with the highest standards of journalism," Judge Lerve said.
"Indeed Mark's work is the standard to which all journalists reporting on court proceedings should aspire.
"Within my experience Mark's reporting has always been impeccable, accurate and fair."
Mulcahy was invited to sit at the bar table for the presentation with Judge Lerve joined on the bench by magistrate Robert Rabbidge and Albury court registrar Wendy Howard.
Holidaying Albury magistrate Tony Murray sent a message read by Judge Lerve.
"Cheers Mark you are sadly missed my friend," Mr Murray said.
Mr Murray believed Mulcahy did a "wonderfully professional job during his tenure as the court reporter for all jurisdictions in the Albury area".
Mulcahy was flattered to be deemed worthy of a ceremonial sitting.
"I think it's a little bit unique and I appreciate the fact Gordon offered the opportunity to hold it and I've had so many friends here from Victoria and NSW, from right throughout the court system and the family here, it's a great day," he said.
Mulcahy said he had stuck to advice from a colleague who stressed that accuracy and fairness were the keys to good court reporting.
He said his court reporting highlight was championing the plight of Albury Corrective Services officers who were going to be removed.
"I ran a fairly extensive series of articles which ultimately led to the Corrective Service officers keeping their jobs and the police getting on with the jobs that they're supposed to do,” he said.
"What was going to happen was that the police were going to have to look after the prisoners at the weekend and the general public would have suffered because they wouldn't have had the police out on the street."