New Childrens Court Magistrate for Brisbane

Highly regarded Richlands Magistrate Leanne O’Shea has been appointed the new Childrens Court Magistrate for Brisbane.

Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said Magistrate O’Shea had more than 30 years’ legal experience, including two decades in private practice specialising in family law and child protection.

“Magistrate O’Shea was appointed in 2001 and has been heavily involved in Childrens Court work in Brisbane, Ipswich, Bundaberg and Richlands,” Mr Bleijie said.

“More than 10,000 children appear in criminal court in Queensland each year and the Childrens Magistrates Court deals with about 95 per cent of those matters.

“Magistrate O’Shea will head the dedicated Childrens Court in the CBD and provide jurisdictional leadership to other magistrates in juvenile justice and child protection matters.”

Mr Bleijie said Magistrate O’Shea also had a long history of community involvement, including roles with the Friends of St John’s Cathedral and Tufnell Child Care Centre.

The five-year appointment was approved by Executive Council yesterday and took effect from today, up to and including 19 July 2017.

Mr Bleijie acknowledged the contribution of former Childrens Court Magistrate Pamela Dowse, whose five-year statutory term of appointment expired last month.

“I would like to thank Magistrate Dowse and acknowledge her commitment to the children of Queensland,” he said.

Media contact: Lisa O’Donnell – 0400 986 432