Appointment of new judge to the Family Court of Western Australia

26/9/07
The State Government has appointed a new judge to the Family Court of Western Australia after winning a long battle to secure funding from the Federal Government.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said Stephen Dexter Crooks would take up his role as a Family Court Judge on October 22.
"Mr Crooks has practised almost exclusively for 30 years in the area of family law and presently specialises in complex financial and child welfare cases," Mr McGinty said.
"He is highly respected by colleagues in his profession, having served as president of the Family Law Practitioner's Association from 1988-89, and on the committees of the Law Society and the Legal Aid Commission."
Mr Crooks will fill a position left vacant when Chief Judge Michael Holden retired in February.
Mr McGinty said it was outrageous that it had taken so long for the Federal Government to agree to replace the retired judge.
"The Federal Attorney General Philip Ruddock's delays in appointing a judge have resulted in a massive blow-out in the average time families have to wait for their cases to be heard in the Family Court," he said.
"Couples are now waiting almost 18 months for their cases to be heard, increasing from 52 weeks in August 2006 to 74 weeks in August this year, which is about 5 and-a-half months longer than they were a year ago.
"The number of matters waiting a trial date has increased from 336 in July 2006 to 516 in June 2007.
"There is no doubt that the blow-out in the court's lists is largely attributable to the delay in appointing a replacement judge, with the number of judges reduced from five to four.
"Family Court funding is a Commonwealth responsibility and excessive court delays can cause enormous disruption to the lives of separating parents and their children."
Attorney General's office - 9422 3000