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Master of the Supreme Court, District Court judge appointed in WA
For the first time, a woman has been appointed as Master of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, with a senior counsel being appointed to fill the subsequent vacancy on the District Court.
Jerome Doraisamy
WA District Court judge Sarah Russell has been promoted to master of the state’s Supreme Court, a role she will assume on 29 January 2024.
Russell J worked as a lawyer in England prior to moving to Australia in 2003. She has worked as a senior associate at two national firms, and joined the WA Bar and worked as a barrister from 2010.
Speaking about the appointment, WA A-G John Quigley said: “I congratulate Sarah Russell on her appointment as a Master of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.”
“Judge Russell is highly regarded in the legal profession on the back of 25 years as a legal practitioner, and almost four years of judicial service. She was an experienced barrister appearing and advising as counsel on multiple commercial, corporate and civil matters, before her appointment to the judiciary,” he said.
“Having served as a District Court judge with distinction, she has the credentials to enhance the Supreme Court’s capacity to preside over complex matters and a significant caseload. I also take this opportunity to thank Kate McDonald for her outstanding work as Acting Master this year, and for her enormous contribution to the work of the Supreme Court, which she will continue as the principal registrar.”
Filling Russell J’s seat on the District Court will be Matthew Curwood SC, who is set to become a judge of that court.
Mr Curwood assumes his new role on 13 December.
He was admitted in 1993, and spent the first 20 years of his legal career as a solicitor with two private firms, before working as a barrister for the last 10 years, practising primarily in wills and estates, equity and trusts, commercial matters, and legal costs. He took silk three years ago, and is on the board of directors for Francis Burt Chambers.
A-G Quigley said: “I welcome Matthew Curwood to the panel of judges of the District Court of Western Australia. He has extensive experience as a legal practitioner and is highly respected in the profession.”
“In addition to his distinguished career, he was the chairperson of the Legal Costs Committee, a statutory committee that determines levels of remuneration for legal practitioners in WA. Judge Curwood will help bolster the District Court bench as it continues to tackle a large workload,” the A-G outlined.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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