ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury has announced the appointments of Mr Marcus Hassall and Ms Lucinda Wilson as Special Magistrates to the ACT Magistrates Court, following a competitive Magistrate recruitment process undertaken in late 2023.
Special Magistrates are critical to the operation of the ACT Magistrates Court as they can be deployed by the Chief Magistrate to cover leave, conflicts or fluctuations in workload.
Mr Hassall brings to the bench nearly 30 years of experience in the legal profession across various jurisdictions, including significant time with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and, more recently, as President of the ACT Bar Association.
Ms Wilson has had distinguished career as a barrister and public prosecutor in NSW, Northern Territory and Tasmania. Ms Wilson until recently served as Senior Member at the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, demonstrating her commitment to public service and upholding the law.
Ms Wilson will commence her three-year term on 11 March 2024, whilst Ms Hassall will commence his three-year term on 2 April 2024.
These appointments will help deliver on the Territory's commitment to accessible and timely justice.
As stated by Minister Rattenbury:
"I am delighted to welcome Mr Hassall and Ms Wilson to the ACT Magistrates Court.
"Their extensive legal experience and demonstrated expertise will be invaluable assets to our justice system, ensuring the fair and efficient administration of the law for the Canberra community."
"These appointments will provide flexibility to the Magistrates Court in responding to increased cases in certain jurisdictions and support the backfilling of leave arrangements."
"These appointments reflect our commitment to a strong legal system that serves Canberrans' needs."
