Queensland Law Society has praised the State Government for its appointment of three new District Court judges.
Queensland Law Society President Luke Murphy welcomed the appointments of barristers Rowan Jackson and Geraldine Dann as judges of the Southport District Court, and the elevation of Central Queensland Magistrate Jeffery Clarke to that of judge of the Rockhampton District Court.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath today announced the appointments – saying that all three judges were legal practitioners who were well respected in the Queensland legal profession.
Ms D’Ath said Judges Jackson and Clarke would take on up their positions on the bench, at Southport and Rockhampton respectively, from August 31, with Judge Dann scheduled to commence at Southport on September 7.
“Geraldine Dann has almost three decades experience in private legal practice, having practised as both a solicitor and barrister,” Ms D’Ath said.
“She was called to the bar in 2008 and practised in a wide array of legal fields including safety, industrial, employment, contract and regulatory law.
“Previously, she practised for almost two decades as a solicitor including five years in commercial law practice and seven years at Herbert Smith Freehills.’’
Ms D’Ath said Rowan Jackson QC commenced practice as a barrister in 1998 and took silk in 2015.
“His broad commercial practice included commercial, contract, insurance, professional negligence, property, disciplinary matters and corporations matters,’’ she said.
“He has appeared in a broad range of commercial matters in most courts and tribunals as well as in private arbitrations and expert determinations.
She said Judge Clarke had served as a Magistrate in Rockhampton and has been a Queensland Magistrate since 2015.
“He was called to the bar in 1995, his practice focusing mainly on criminal matters in the District and Supreme Courts.
“He has also acted in personal injury claims, appeals and judicial reviews and is a Past President of the Victims of Crime Association – Central Queensland.
“These three new appointments to the District Court are outstanding legal practitioners who are well respected in Queensland’s legal profession.”
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