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2 Local Court magistrates to join NSW District Court
Two magistrates, who have a combined 24 years of experience on the Local Court bench, are set to be appointed as judges of the District Court of NSW.
Jerome Doraisamy
Magistrate and Deputy State Coroner Elizabeth Ryan and Magistrate Imad Abdul-Karim are being elevated to the bench of the NSW District Court.
Magistrate Ryan has worked as a Deputy State Coroner for the NSW Coroner’s Court since 2017, was appointed to the Local Court in 2009, and also worked as a Children’s Court magistrate between 2014 and 2017. Prior to joining the bench, she was senior assistant director of the tax and economic crime branch of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Magistrate Abdul-Karim was appointed to the Local Court in 2017 and worked at Liverpool Local Court as the coordinating magistrate until December 2024. This year, he commenced working at Sutherland Local Court as the coordinating magistrate. Prior to joining the bench, Magistrate Abdul-Karim was a principal federal prosecutor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.
Speaking about the appointments, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said: “I am thrilled to announce the appointments of Magistrates Elizabeth Ryan and Imad Abdul-Karim to the District Court.
“As magistrates, they hold almost a quarter-century of combined experience on the bench of Australia’s busiest court, and their elevation to the District Court is a well-deserved testament to their skill and dedication. These appointments also send a clear message to all magistrates that their work on the Local Court is valued and that for individuals with skills that suit appointment to the District Court is a definite possibility.
“Magistrate Ryan’s appointment comes ahead of International Day of Women Judges on March 10 and boosts the number of female judges on the NSW District Court full-time bench to 36.”
Magistrate Ryan and Magistrate Abdul-Karim will be sworn in on 17 March 2025.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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