New judge for NSW Court of Appeal
Attorney-General Mark Speakman has announced the appointment of a new judge to the bench of the NSW Court of Appeal.
Justice Paul Brereton AM RFD has been elevated to the NSW Court of Appeal from the NSW Supreme Court where he has worked for the past 13 years.
Justice Brereton has been the Supreme Court’s judge for the adoptions and corporations list for most of this decade.
Between 2011 and 2013, he chaired the Chief Justice’s Review of the Costs Assessment Scheme.
Most recently, he has been serving as the Deputy Chairperson of the NSW Law Reform Commission and sits as a member of the Defence Force Discipline Appeals Tribunal.
Calling the appointment “richly deserved,” Mr Speakman said Justice Brereton has served with distinction as a Supreme Court Judge.
Justice Brereton is an Army reservist, holding the rank of Major General. He holds honorary appointments as Colonel Commandant of the Royal NSW Regiment and the University of NSW Regiment.
He has held the position of Assistant Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force since 2016. In this position he headed an inquiry into rumoured breaches of the laws of armed conflict by Australian Defence Force members in Afghanistan.
Justice Brereton was honoured with membership to the Order of Australia (Military Division) in 2010.
He commenced his legal career as a lawyer in 1982, before he was called to the bar, where he spent eighteen years.