New Appointments Across Australia in March 2017
Tuesday 14 March 2017 @ 2.05 p.m. | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure | Legal Research
In March 2017, there have been three new Supreme Court Judges appointed in NSW; a new local court judge appointed in the Northern Territory; and a brand new committee chair position for Former Chief Justice, Robert French.
NSW Supreme Court Judges
On 8 March 2017, Attorney General Mark Speakman announced the appointments of a new Chief Judge in Equity, a new judge of appeal and a new Supreme Court judge.
Justice Julie Ward has been appointed Chief Judge of the Equity Division of the Supreme Court, Justice Richard White has been elevated to the Court of Appeal and Sydney barrister Julia Lonergan SC will join the bench of the Supreme Court.
In 2008, Justice Ward became the first female solicitor to be appointed directly to the bench of the Supreme Court. She was a partner for 20 years at one of Australia's leading law firms, and served as an associate to the first Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, the Honourable Sir Nigel Bowen, AC, KBE in the early 1980s. Justice Ward will replace Justice Patricia Bergin, who has retired after 18 years as a Supreme Court judge, including eight years as Chief Judge in Equity.
Justice White, who was also an associate to Sir Nigel, will join the Court of Appeal after 13 years on the Supreme Court bench and 18 years at the bar, specialising in commercial law.
Incoming Supreme Court judge Julia Lonergan SC has worked as a barrister for 20 years and was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 2012. In 2013, she appeared as senior counsel assisting a special commission of inquiry into child sexual abuse in the Hunter region.
Justices Ward and White will begin their new roles on 15 March, while Ms Lonergan will be sworn in as a Supreme Court judge on 21 March.
Local Court Judge for NT
On 13 March 2017, the Attorney-General Natasha Fyles announced the appointment of new Judge Sarah McNamara to the Local Court of the Northern Territory.
“Judge McNamara brings 22 years of legal experience to this role, along with her most recent experience as the Director of Courts (South) of the Supreme Court and Judicial Registrar of the Local Court in Alice Springs.
Over the past decade Judge McNamara has had a significant impact on the Central Australian community, presiding with the Mental Health Review Tribunal and the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
While new to the role, Judge McNamara has extensive experience acting as a Local Court Judge and relieving Magistrates in both Alice Springs and Darwin."
New National Review into Access to Justice - Committee Chair
The Law Council of Australia has announced on 13 March 2017, according to the Lawyers' Weekly, that a new project, The Justice Project, will see a comprehensive national review conducted into the impediments to access to justice in Australia. Former chief justice French will oversee the project, as well as a steering committee of eminent Australians.
The project’s aim is to uncover systemic flaws and ensure the path towards equal access to justice is clearly mapped out. It will hear from both individuals and organisations via written submission and/or consultation to form key insights into impediments in Australia’s justice system.
The project will review the case studies and explore the current sentiment on access to justice. It will also uncover what is working and why, then form constructive recommendations for future action. The findings from the project will be released by the end of November 2017.
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