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WA names new chief justice
Western Australia Attorney-General John Quigley has named the next top judge for Australia’s Wildflower State.
Jerome Doraisamy
Peter Quinlan SC, who is considered an “eminent jurist” and is “extremely well regarded by the legal profession and judiciary both within, and outside of, Western Australia”, according to Mr Quigley, will serve as the state’s 14th Chief Justice.
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He is set to replace outgoing judge Wayne Martin, who earlier this year announced he was stepping down after 12 years as the state's top judge.
Mr Quinlan is a former assistant Crown counsel at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, director of the Law Council of Australia and president of the Western Australian Bar Association.
He was appointed senior counsel in 2010 and made Solicitor-General of WA in 2016.
He was the “standout choice” to serve as the state’s new Chief Justice, Mr Quigley said.
“Given his broad experience, Mr Quinlan SC has a comprehensive and unrivalled understanding of the public and private sectors, which is essential to the efficient management and modernisation of the courts in Western Australia,” he said.
“Mr Quinlan SC has been instrumental in facilitating the McGowan government’s law reform agenda and the government looks forward to his wise counsel as we implement further reforms.”
“On behalf of the McGowan government, I congratulate Mr Quinlan SC on his appointment to this important role in our justice system and wish him the very best.”
Law Society of Western Australia president Hayley Cormann added that Mr Quinlan SC is eminently suitable for this role.
“He is an outstanding leader of our profession and possesses all the necessary skills, attributes and capabilities to fulfil this role in the WA justice system and for our community,” she said.
“I extend congratulations to him on behalf of the Law Society and our members on his appointment and wish him well. I look forward to continuing to work closely with him in his new role.”
MORE TO COME.
