New President of the Court of Appeal

Attorney General Christian Porter has today announced the appointment of Hon. Justice Carmel Joy McLure as the new President of the Court of Appeal.

Justice McLure takes over from the Hon. Justice Steytler, who retired from the Court on February 1 to take up appointment as the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission.

"As one of the court's most senior judges Justice McLure is considered to be extremely well qualified to take on the role of president," Mr Porter said.

"She is highly regarded for her quick and brilliant mind, legal acumen, capacity for hard work and sound judgement."

Justice McLure was appointed to the Supreme Court bench in April 2001 and in February 2005 was one of the inaugural judges to be appointed to the Court of Appeal.

After obtaining her Bachelor of Jurisprudence with Honours in 1976 she then went on to complete her Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1979, both from The University of Western Australia.

Justice McLure served her articles at Mallesons Stephen Jaques and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in December 1980.

Her Honour was also engaged on the private staff of the then Attorney General, Senator Peter Durack QC in Canberra as assistant private secretary in 1977-78 and private secretary from 1981-82.

Justice McLure also studied at Oxford University and attained her post-graduate degree of Bachelor of Civil Law. This was followed by a year lecturing in law at the North-Western University in Chicago, as the nominee of the law faculty at Oxford.

Justice McLure returned to WA in 1984 and took employment as a solicitor at the law firm then known as Keall Brinsden, now Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

In 1987, she became partner in that firm and from 1993-1995 she was the head of the firm's litigation division.

In 1995, Justice McLure joined the Independent Bar practising out of Francis Burt Chambers and was appointed Queen's Counsel in December 1997.

"Justice McLure practised extensively in civil and commercial litigation, including in the fields of administrative law, corporations law, trade practices law and professional negligence matters," the Attorney General said.

"She also appeared as counsel in many major cases and in two royal commissions.

"During her time in practice, Justice McLure was also a member of the Law Reform Commission of WA, the International Legal Service Advisory Council, the Women Lawyers Association of WA, the Law Society and the Legal Practice Board.

"On top of this she has also served the wider community through membership of the Board of the WA Academy of Performing Arts, the Council of Edith Cowan University, the Board of St Catherine's College at The University of Western Australia and the Rhodes Scholarship selection panel.

"I have every confidence in Justice McLure and welcome her to the position of President of the Court of Appeal."