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ACT Magistrates Court appoints eighth magistrate

A new magistrate has been appointed to the ACT Magistrates Court.

user iconNaomi Neilson 05 December 2023 Big Law
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Alexandra Burt has become the eighth magistrate for the territory in a move Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said will “strengthen” the court’s ability to deliver “timely and efficient” justice.

“I am delighted that a judicial officer of Ms Burt’s calibre will join the ACT Magistrates Court,” Mr Rattenbury said.

“Ms Burt will bring immense experience to her new role, having worked across diverse backgrounds and subject matters.”

Ms Burt, who has 18 years of experience in the legal profession, recently served as a magistrate in Victoria and, prior to this, practised as a barrister in criminal and administrative law.

Ms Burt has appeared in federal and state courts, including the Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Mental Health Tribunal.

Mr Rattenbury has also appointed Rebecca Christensen SC and Dr Anthony Hopkins to acting judges of the ACT Supreme Court.

Both Ms Christensen and Dr Hopkins currently serve as special magistrates of the ACT Magistrates Court, but were assigned to assist the Supreme Court to manage its workload.

“I congratulate all three individuals and look forward to their service to the Canberra community,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The ACT Bar Association congratulated Ms Burt on her appointment and offered their “warm congratulations” to Ms Christensen and Dr Hopkins on their appointments to the Supreme Court.

“Ms Christensen SC and Dr Hopkins are widely liked local practitioners whom the Bar Association expects to be an asset to the Supreme Court as it seeks to manage its workload challenges over the coming years,” the Bar said in a statement.

Naomi Neilson

Naomi Neilson

Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly. 

You can email Naomi at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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