One of Australia's leading criminal prosecutors, Sarah McNaughton SC, has been appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of NSW.
Ms McNaughton is currently the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP), a position she has held since 2016.
Attorney General Mark Speakman said Ms McNaughton brings more than three decades of legal experience to the Supreme Court bench.
"I congratulate Ms McNaughton on her well-deserved appointment as a judge of the Supreme Court and wish her every success during her term of office," Mr Speakman said.
"Her outstanding legal skills and experience will be valuable assets to the Supreme Court and to the administration of justice in our state."
Prior to her appointment as Director, Ms McNaughton appeared as both prosecution and defence counsel in a number of complex criminal trials, developing specialist expertise in taxation offences, corporate crime, drug importation and terrorism.
She has been a respected member of the NSW Bar since 1996, was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011 and has held a range of roles in private practice and with the CDPP.
Ms McNaughton will be sworn in on Tuesday, 11 October 2022.
Biography:
Sarah McNaughton SC commenced her five year term as the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on 16 May 2016. In May 2021, Ms McNaughton was reappointed for a further period of 2 years.
Ms McNaughton has 33 years' experience as a legal practitioner and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Master of Laws from the University of Sydney. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1989, joined the New South Wales Bar in 1996, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011.
She appeared for the State of New South Wales at the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse and was appointed Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
Ms McNaughton's role as Director included an appellate practice in intermediate appellate courts across the nation and in the High Court of Australia.
