An Ireland-born barrister with two decades of legal experience has been appointed new Magistrate for Brisbane.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said Eoin Mac Giolla Ri's appointment would bring extensive experience in criminal law to the Bench in the south-east before moving to Mt Isa in December.
"I congratulate Magistrate Mac Giolla Ri on his well-deserved appointment," Minister Fentiman said.
"Our newest Magistrate is very familiar with the Magistrates Courts, having made extensive appearances in that jurisdiction during five years at Legal Aid Queensland before entering private practice.
"This work included providing hundreds of duty lawyer sessions in the busiest courts in the Brisbane area and working in our regions appearing as counsel on court circuits.
"Practising primarily in the area of criminal law Magistrate Mac Giolla Ri is also experienced in electoral, administrative law and disciplinary matters and has appeared as counsel in the Federal courts in a number of refugee matters."
Magistrate Mac Giolla Ri was first called to the Bar in Ireland in 2000 after completing his legal studies at the National University of Ireland, and was admitted to the Bar in Queensland in 2002.
His appointment follows an extensive selection process involving the Judicial Appointments Advisory Panel, which includes representatives from the Queensland Law Society and the Bar Association of Queensland.
Magistrate Mac Giolla Ri's appointment begins formally on 21 June 2021 at the Brisbane Magistrates Court.
