Legal Aid Queensland Public Defender appointed District Court Judge

• Legal Aid Queensland Public Defender Katarina Prskalo appointed as District Court Judge.
• Ms Prskalo has previously served as Acting District Court judge.
• She commences in the role on 2 April 2024.

Respected King’s Counsel and current Legal Aid Queensland Public Defender Katarina Prskalo KC has been appointed a judge of the District Court of Queensland.

Ms Prskalo was admitted as a solicitor in 1997, and joined Legal Aid Queensland in 1998. Since that time, she has practised exclusively in criminal law.

After being called to the Bar in 2004, Ms Prskalo practised as regional circuit counsel in the District Court, appearing in both trials and sentences.

Ms Prskalo has extensive experience as counsel and has appeared across all criminal law jurisdictions, notably including the Mental Health Court, the Court of Appeal, and the High Court of Australia.

As part of the Legal Aid Queensland team for more than two decades, Ms Prskalo has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to efficiently providing quality specialist legal advocacy services to disadvantaged Queenslanders, those in remote communities and First Nations peoples.

During this time, Ms Prskalo mentored and supported the professional development of junior barristers in the Public Defender Chambers and at the private bar.

She has also made notable contributions to law reform as a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.

In recognition of her excellent advocacy, legal and leadership skills, she was appointed King’s Counsel in 2022.

Ms Prskalo served as an Acting Judge of the District Court from May to November 2022, adjudicating on matters in the civil applications list and presiding over sentences, trials, pre-trial hearings and appeals in the criminal trial division.

In 2023, Ms Prskalo was appointed the Legal Aid Public Defender, having previously served as Deputy, leading a team of barristers to undertake complex trials and sentences in the Supreme, District and Magistrates courts across the state.

Quotes attributable to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“Throughout her lengthy career at Legal Aid Queensland, Katarina Prskalo KC has conducted herself with integrity, independence, and fairness and will no doubt bring those excellent qualities to her judicial role.

“Ms Prskalo is highly respected among her peers.

“As Public Defender at Legal Aid Queensland, she has led a team of barristers to provide high-quality specialist legal advocacy services to disadvantaged Queenslanders.

“Notwithstanding this heavy workload, she still found time to mentor and support the professional development of junior barristers and make important policy contributions as a member of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council.

“As an Acting District Court Judge, Ms Prskalo’s courtesy and calm authority inspired the respect and confidence of those appearing before her.

“Her appointment to the District Court is richly deserved and I wish her well in this important role.”

ENDS