Queensland appoints three new magistrates

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie has today announced three new appointments to the Magistrates Court of Queensland.

Mr Hayden Stjernqvist, Mr Stuart Shearer and Mr Anthony Gett have been appointed to the bench to take the total number of magistrates in the state to 91.

“Two of these appointments are additional magistrates, who will enhance the capabilities of the busiest court in the state,” Mr Bleijie said.

“Each of these three new magistrates has significant criminal law experience and I am pleased to be appointing three gentlemen of this calibre to the bench.

“Mr Shearer and Mr Gett have strong prosecutorial experience, while Mr Stjernqvist has presided over matters in 55 courthouses across the state in an acting capacity.

“I congratulate the three new magistrates on their appointments and wish them all the best for the judicial careers.”

Mr Stjernqvist will sit in Bowen, Mr Shearer will initially be based in Brisbane before going to Emerald, and Mr Gett will be located in Cairns.

Short biographies of each new magistrate are attached.

[ENDS] 13 December 2012

Media Contact: Matt Johnston 0432 535 893

Mr Hayden Stjernqvist

Hayden Stjernquist became an acting magistrate in 2000 after acting as a registrar in the Magistrates Court for more than a decade. As an acting magistrate, he has presided over matters in 55 courthouses across Queensland in the last 12 years.

Mr Stuart Shearer

Stuart Shearer is a Queensland barrister practising in crime and general commercial law. He is a former Crown Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, and a prosecutor with the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Shearer is currently the Deputy President of the Parole Board of Queensland.

Mr Anthony Gett

Anthony Gett has been a prosecutor with the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions for 12 years. He is highly regarded in the field of cybercrime prosecutions and has presented at conferences around the world.