New District Court judges named

23/12/04
Attorney General Jim McGinty today announced the appointment of Stipendiary Magistrate Julie Wager and prominent Perth lawyers Kevin Sleight and Philip McCann as District Court judges.
They will replace Judge Peter Blaxell who has been appointed to the Supreme Court and Judge John Chaney who has been appointed Deputy President of the State Administrative Tribunal.
The third appointment will allow for the appointment of a Judge of the District Court as the Commissioner of the Workers' Compensation Dispute Resolution Directorate.
Kevin Sleight - was admitted to practice in 1975, working as a solicitor at Stone James & Co before becoming a partner in Mayberry Hammond & Co in Northam. In 1999 he established the Perth office of Mayberry Hammond & Co and practised mainly in civil litigation and criminal law. He was involved in a landmark decision of the Supreme Court, which ruled that the court had the power to order DNA testing to resolve paternity issues in estate disputes.
Philip McCann - was admitted to practice in 1982, working with Keall Brinsden (now Corrs Chambers Westgarth) and then with Majteles and Salmon, becoming a partner in 1990. He then joined the firm of Phillips Fox as a partner in 1998 where he practised as in-house counsel. Since 2001, he has practised as a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers. His principle areas of practice have been personal injuries and workers' compensation, commercial law, professional negligence, administrative law, planning law and trade practices law.
Julie Wager - was admitted in 1986, working initially with the Legal Aid Commission. She then worked for the firm of Clairs Keeley before again joining the Legal Aid Commission, becoming Acting Solicitor in Charge in 1991. She then went into practice on her own account before being appointed as a Stipendiary Magistrate in 2000. Since her appointment as a Magistrate, Ms Wager has been head of the Drug Court and is currently President of the Stipendiary Magistrates Society. She was also President of the Criminal Lawyers Association between 1996 and 1997.
Mr Sleight was sworn in as a Judge this morning while Mr McCann and Ms Wager are due to be sworn in on January 28, 2005.

Attorney General's office: 9220 5000