Two new District Court judges and new President of Childrens Court

Two new judges have today been appointed to the District Court, along with a new President of the Childrens Court.

Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dr Anthony Lynham said John Allen QC and Vicki Loury QC would begin their roles as District Court judges on December 17 in Brisbane.

“Mr Allen has also been appointed to sit in the position of Deputy President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal for three years, with Judge Suzanne Sheridan returning to sit in the District Court,” Dr Lynham said.

“Mr Allen and Ms Loury are highly-regarded barristers who will bring with them more than a combined 55 years’ worth of legal experience.

“Both appointees come highly regarded, have served the people of Queensland and the legal profession very well in their current roles and are well-suited to serve the justice system from the bench.

“The Palaszczuk Government announced funding for an extra judge for the District Court to serve our justice system and I am pleased that this position has now been filled.”

Currently the Public Defender at Legal Aid Queensland, Mr Allen has more than 30 years’ experience in the legal profession, including 32 years as a barrister.  He has appeared in challenging trials and appeals and as Public Defender contributed to the administration of justice on behalf of disadvantaged Queenslanders. Mr Allen has a Master of Laws with a major in Health Law and has tutored at the Queensland University of Technology.

Ms Loury has spent 17 of her 23 years in the legal profession as a barrister. She is currently a Consultant Crown Prosecutor conducting major trials in the Supreme and District courts. Ms Loury has spent almost all of her legal career working in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, including the past 16 years as a Crown Prosecutor. She is currently a mentor at the Queensland University of Technology and has been a guest lecturer at Griffith University and the University of Queensland.

Dr Lynham also congratulated Judge Deborah Richards on her appointment as President of the Childrens Court of Queensland following Judge Michael Shanahan’s decision to step down from the role.

“With two decades on the District Court bench, Judge Richards will bring a great deal of experience to her new role. She will begin her appointment in the new year,” Dr Lynham said.

“I would like to thank Judge Shanahan for his hard work as President. He was appointed to the role seven years ago, having served as a judge in the Childrens Court since 1999. His commitment to fairness and system-wide reform over the past seven years contributed significantly to the profession, the Courts and the community more broadly.

“I am thankful the courts will retain his wealth of knowledge as he continues to serve as a judge of the District Court.”

ENDS

Media contact:

Emma McBryde 0447 155 332