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2 silks appointed to Federal Court bench in Victoria
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has named a King’s counsel and a senior counsel as judges of the Federal Court of Australia.
Jerome Doraisamy
Last week, A-G Dreyfus appointed Penelope Neskovcin KC and Craig Dowling SC to the Victorian registry of the Federal Court.
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The new judges commenced in their roles on 8 February and 9 February, respectively.
Ms Neskovcin was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1994, and in 1995, she was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, the A-G’s Department detailed in a statement. Ms Neskovcin was then called to the Bar in 2002 and took silk in 2016.
Mr Dowling was admitted to practice as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1991, the department went on, and in 1999, he was called to the Bar. In 2017, he was appointed senior counsel.
Speaking about the appointments, A-G Dreyfus said that the Albanese government is committed to merit in appointing judicial officers.
“These appointments have been made following an open call for expressions of interest across all jurisdictions and consideration by an advisory panel,” he outlined.
“The advisory panel comprised the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, a former justice of the Federal Court, and a senior official from the Attorney-General’s Department. The advisory panel shortlisted, assessed, and put forward recommended candidates for appointment, including Ms Neskovcin and Mr Dowling.”
On behalf of the Australian government, Mr Dreyfus congratulated Ms Neskovcin and Mr Dowling on their appointments and thanked them “for their willingness to serve the people of Australia as judges of the Federal Court”.
