New Court of Appeal established

18/11/04
Attorney General Jim McGinty today announced the establishment of a new Court of Appeal, which will begin on February 1, 2005.
The new court will be a division of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and will handle all court case appeals, which were previously dealt with in the Supreme Court.
The Judges of the Court of Appeal will be the Chief Justice David Malcolm and Justices Christopher Steytler, Neville Owen, Christine Wheeler, Leonard Roberts-Smith, Carmel McLure, Christopher Pullin, with Justice Steytler being appointed as president.
Mr McGinty said he was confident the new Court of Appeal would achieve the success of similar models which had been established in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
"The Court of Appeal will offer greater consistency in judgements, quicker judgements and shorter hearings and will improve the current appeals system, where Judges of the Supreme Court sit on appeal on a rotational basis," he said.
"The Judges who have been appointed to the new court are very highly regarded within the legal profession and I am confident their extensive experience will have a significant benefit on the judicial system in WA."
David Malcolm - has been Chief Justice of Western Australia since 1988. In 1990, he became Lieutenant Governor of WA and was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1992.
Christopher Steytler - was admitted in 1973, working as a barrister in the criminal and civil fields in South Africa until he emigrated to Australia in 1976. In Perth, he worked as a law clerk with Parker and Parker before being admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of WA in 1980. He was a partner in Parker and Parker until 1990 before joining the Independent Bar, frequently appearing in the Supreme, Federal and High Court. Justice Steytler was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of WA in 1994.
Neville Owen - was admitted in 1970 in the Supreme Court of WA. He was a partner of several firms, including EM Heenan and Co, Bryant and Owen and Robinson Cox. Justice Owen was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court in 1991. He recently headed up the Royal Commission into the collapse of HIH.
Christine Wheeler - was admitted in 1980 and became a legal officer at the Crown Law Department, where she assisted in criminal cases and general counsel work in criminal and civil jurisdictions. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1994 before becoming a judge of the Supreme Court in 1996.
Leonard Roberts-Smith - was admitted in 1970 and moved to Papua New Guinea to take up the role of Chief Crown Prosecutor, becoming the country's first Public Prosecutor in 1975. He was appointed a stipendiary magistrate in South Australia, before moving to WA to become the first Director of the Legal Aid Commission of WA. Justice Roberts-Smith was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1989 before becoming a judge of the Supreme Court in 2000.
Carmel McLure - was admitted in 1980 and worked as a solicitor at Keall Brinsden, becoming a partner in 1987 and head of the firm's litigation division from 1993 to 1995. In 1995, Justice McLure moved to Francis Burt Chambers as a barrister and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1997. She became a judge of the Supreme Court in 2001.
Christopher Pullin - was admitted in 1970 and worked as a solicitor at Northmore Hale Davy and Leake from 1971 to 192, becoming a partner of the firm for 14 years. In 1987, Justice Pullin commenced practice as a barrister at the Independent Bar and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1988, becoming heavily involved in native title cases. He joined the Supreme Court as a judge in 2001.
The new Court of Appeal will operate from the Supreme Court of WA building.
Attorney General's office - 9220 5000
Court of Appeal office: 9421 5303