Judge Michael Allen has today been announced as the next Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW.
He has worked in all areas of the law including family and domestic violence, serious crime, workers compensation and civil law.
Judge Allen is committed to the administration of justice with almost 40 years' experience, including as Deputy Chief Magistrate and most recently as a District Court Judge.
He has worked in all areas of the law including family and domestic violence, serious crime, workers compensation and civil law.
Judge Allen is passionate about the Local Court and the role of magistrates as members of their local communities working with the police, health and justice agencies to ensure community safety.
For almost a decade, he was a Local Court magistrate before being appointed Deputy Chief Magistrate in 2018 and became an acting judge of the District Court in 2022. This work took him all over the state including many years based in Western Sydney and regional NSW.
Since early 2023, Judge Allen has been a District Court Judge at Penrith and from January this year has been the resident list judge there. His responsibilities include listing arrangements, short matters, sentences, appeals and both jury and judge alone trials.
Judge Allen started his career as a solicitor in private practice in 1986, before becoming a barrister in 2001 and practising across regional NSW for several years. He later worked with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and Legal Aid NSW.
These roles helped him develop skills in defence and prosecution in a broad range of matters. Judge Michael Allen will be sworn in on 8 July 2024.
Attorney General Michael Daley said:
"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Allen as Chief Magistrate of the NSW Local Court.
"Judge Allen is a highly experienced jurist.
"I would like to thank retiring Chief Magistrate Judge Peter Johnstone for his outstanding service over the past three years as Chief Magistrate and before that as the President of the Children's Court.
"Judge Johnstone has dedicated his career to public service and will formally retire on 5 July 2024."
