Attorney General John Quigley has appointed barrister Sarah Russell as a judge in the District Court.
Ms Russell has over 25 years' experience in civil, corporate and commercial litigation across a variety of sectors including leading Australian and international companies, financial institutions and government agencies.
She has been a counsel in complex corporate and contractual cases in the Supreme Court and Federal Court principally in the areas of construction and engineering, and has advised and represented government agencies on consumer issues.
Ms Russell will fill a vacancy created by recently retired judge, His Hon Bruce Goetze, who has returned to the District Court as an Auxiliary Judge for six months.
This will allow judges from the District Court to assist the President of the Children's Court to manage a busy year ahead in that jurisdiction.
Ms Russell will take up her new position on December 2, 2020.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
"Ms Russell's experience in commercial, corporate and commercial law will add further depth to the significant knowledge base of the District Court.
"She joined the Western Australian Bar and commenced practise as a barrister in 2010. Before that Ms Russell was a senior associate at Australian law firms, Clayton Utz and Mallesons Stephen Jaques. She also practised in England for more than a decade before moving to Australia in 2003.
"Ms Russell has been an active member of both the Bar Council of the Western Australian Bar Association and the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia, Business Law Section.
"I congratulate Ms Russell on becoming the newest judge of the District Court.
"I also wish to thank Judge Goetze for his willingness to assist the Court after his retirement."
