2021 Appointments
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DISTRICT COURT
Craig Smith SC
8 March 2021
Craig Smith has been in practice for 20 years in the criminal law and earlier in his career was at Legal Aid New South Wales and the Western Aboriginal Legal Service. Smith SC was appointed Senior Counsel in 2014 and shortly thereafter became the Deputy Senior Public Defender. Smith SC appeared in District Court trials and in the Supreme Court and often in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
Andrew Coleman SC
15 March 2021
Andrew Coleman SC has been in practice for some 33 years in Australia and the United Kingdom and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2010. His specialty areas at the Bar included commercial law, insurance and sports law. Prior to his appointment to the District Court, Coleman SC sat as a Senior Member (part-time) of the NCAT in 2014 and heard matters including appeals in the Consumer and Commercial Division, the Occupational Division and on the Appeal Panel.
Tanya Smith SC
29 March 2021
Tanya Smith SC has worked in the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for some 23 years and most recently as the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions. Tanya Smith SC was appointed Senior Counsel in 2019.
Magistrate Karen Robinson
15 June 2021
Magistrate Robinson has many years of experience as a solicitor, barrister and magistrate. Her knowledge and skills will be a huge asset for the District Court,” New South Wales Attorney-General the Honourable Mark Speakman SC MP said. “She has coordinated matters at Blacktown Local Court for the past three years, has sat in the Children’s Court, and dealt with criminal and civil matters. “Her background includes court work in Sydney and regional NSW where she dealt with a wide range of offences.”
DISTRICT COURT DRUG COURT
Jane Mottley AM
9 August 2021
Deputy Chief Magistrate Mottley was admitted as a solicitor in 1989, becoming a magistrate in 2000. She sat in the Children’s Court, in the Local Courts, including on the Parkes circuit before being appointed Deputy Chief Magistrate in 2009. Her Honour has been an acting judge of the District Court since 2017 while presiding as a judge of the Drug Court.
FEDERAL COURT
John Halley SC
19 March 2021
Mr John Halley SC, was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia on 19 March 2021. His Honour was admitted as a legal practitioner in 1986 and began his career at Allen Allen & Hemsley (now Allens Linklaters) and called to the NSW Bar in 1993.
Elizabeth Cheesman SC
12 April 2021
Ms Cheeseman was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia on 12 April 2021. Her Honour was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1991 and began her career as a solicitor at Blake Dawson Waldron. Ms Cheeseman was called to the Bar in 1996 and has specialised in commercial, corporate, banking, regulatory and insurance law. Ms Cheeseman also practices in proceeds of crime litigation.
Scott Goodman SC
11 November 2021
Mr Scott Goodman SC was appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and will commence on 11 November 2021. Mr Goodman has been appointed to the Sydney Registry to replace Justice Jacqueline Gleeson following her elevation to the High Court of Australia. He was admitted as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2016.
Federal Circuit Family Court of Australia
Ms Julie Kearney
28 October 2021
Ms Kearney was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1995, as a Solicitor in the High Court of Australia in 1996, and as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2004. Ms Kearney was called to the New South Wales Bar in 2015. She is an accredited Mediator and Arbitrator by the National Mediator Accreditation System and the Australian Institute of Family Law Arbitrators and Mediators respectively.
Ms Vivien Carty
28 October 2021
Ms Carty was admitted as a Solicitor, Attorney and Proctor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1983 and as a Solicitor and Barrister in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1984. Ms Carty was called to the New South Wales Bar in 2011. She began her career as a solicitor at Victoria Legal Aid.
Deputy Chief Justice Robert McClelland
17 September 2021
Deputy Chief Justice McClelland was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1982 and as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2011. He was appointed Judge of the FCFCOA (Division 1) (formerly the Family Court of Australia) in 2015, and elevated to Deputy Chief Justice in 2018.
Mr Peter Campton SC
12 November 2021
Mr Campton was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1984 and as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2000. Mr Campton was appointed Senior Counsel in 2014. He is currently Senior Counsel at Waratah Chambers.
Ms Suzanne Christie SC
12 November 2021
Ms Christie was admitted as a Solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1999 and as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2004. Ms Christie was appointed Senior Counsel in 2018.