The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of Magistrate Philip Ginnane as a judge of the County Court.
Mr Ginnane was appointed to the Magistrates’ Court in 2011, and since 2016 has been the Supervising Magistrate for the Court’s Civil Division.
He is a member of the Municipal Electoral Tribunal, which considers disputes arising from local government elections.
He is also the chair of the Magistrates’ Court Civil Practice Committee, a member of the WorkCover Users Group, and the Magistrates’ Court representative on the Supreme Court Legal Costs Committee.
Prior to being appointed as a Magistrate, Mr Ginnane practiced as a barrister for more than two decades across a broad range of areas, including commercial, industrial, administrative and equal opportunity law.
He participated in the Victorian Bar Legal Training Institute Program in New Guinea.
Mr Ginnane has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne. He was admitted to practise in 1988, and signed the Bar Roll in 1990.
Mr Ginnane replaces Judge Graeme Hicks, who retired in August after almost 17 years’ service at the County Court. Mr Hicks will now serve in a sessional role as Deputy Chair of Harness Racing Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board.
As stated by Attorney-General Martin Pakula
"Philip Ginnane brings many decades of experience to this role, including nearly seven years as a Magistrate, and I congratulate him on his appointment."
"I’d like to thank Judge Graeme Hicks for his many years of service at the County Court, and I look forward to his contribution to Harness Racing Victoria’s Racing Appeals and Disciplinary Board."
