New Appointments and Resignations at the end of March 2017
Monday 10 April 2017 @ 11.39 a.m. | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure | Legal Research
In the last few weeks of March 2017, two new Federal Court judges have been appointed, the first female Supreme Court Chief Justice in Victoria has stepped down and WA welcomes a new Director of Public Prosecutions.
New Federal Court of Australia Appointments
On 24 March 2017, two new judges, Mr Roger Derrington QC and Mr Michael Lee SC, were appointed to the Federal Court of Australia.
Mr Derrington commenced practice as a barrister in 1990 in QLD. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2004. His principal areas of practice have included commercial law, equity and trusts, contractual disputes in the areas of banking, joint venture disputes and insurance, corporations and securities law, trade practices, insolvency and bankruptcy litigation, administrative law, and taxation and revenue law.
Mr Lee signed the Bar and High Court Rolls and commenced practice as a barrister in 2002 in NSW. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011. His principal areas of practice have included commercial law, equity, class actions, administrative law, employment law and anti-discrimination, building and construction, public interest law, commissions and public inquiries, industrial prosecutions, banking and finance, insurance and criminal law.
Mr Derrington was assigned to the Brisbane Registry, commencing on 29 March 2017. Mr Lee was assigned to the Sydney Registry, commencing on 27 March 2017.
Australia's First Female Supreme Court Chief Justice Resigns in Victoria
Australia's first female Supreme Court Chief Justice, Marilyn Warren, has advised the Victorian State Government and other judges of her decision to resign, effective from October 2017. She was appointed to Victoria's most senior judicial position in 2003, becoming the first woman in the role in any state or territory.
According to the ABC News, the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) described Chief Justice Warren as a distinguished leader and an inspiring role model:
"While treasuring the heritage value of one of Victoria's most beautiful buildings, she fought for the Supreme Court's modernisation to better serve the needs of victims of crimes, witnesses, and others who come in contact with the courts."
WA Welcomes New Director of Public Prosecutions
According to Lawyers' Weekly, the Law Society of Western Australia has announced that a new director of public prosecutions has been appointed for the state. The society has congratulated Amanda Forrester SC on her new role, and is the first first female to occupy that office in Western Australia.
Prior to beginning her new role as DPP for Western Australia, Ms Forrester had been acting as DPP since November 2016. She was filling the vacancy left by Joseph McGrath SC, following his appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
WA Law Society president Alain Musikanth said:
"Amanda Forrester SC is an experienced and highly respected member of the Western Australian legal profession and an outstanding choice as DPP."
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