FIVE lawyers have been appointed commissioners to the District Court as part of a $2 million plan to clear the backlog of cases and reduce waiting times for trials.
The commissioners will hear civil cases such as breaches of contract and personal industry claims.
It is estimated the commissioners will reduce the waiting time for a new criminal case to go to trial by 20 per cent to just over 13 months.
The following barristers will act as commissioners between February and June next year:
Anthony Power from February 7 to March 24. Mr Power was a former Jackson McDonald partner before practising as a barrister at in a wide variety of areas including administrative, contract, insurance, property and town planning law at the Independent Bar;
Andrew Stavrianou from February 7 to April 1. Mr Stavrianou is currently a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers. He has been a deputy chairman of the Building Disputes Committee since 1995;
Richard Keen from March 29 to May 27. Mr Keen was a former partner with Talbot and Olivier and now practises as an independent counsel at Francis Burt Chambers in commercial litigation, building and engineering, personal injuries and property law;
Gail Archer from April 4 to April 29 and May 30 to July 1. Ms Archer was a counsel with the director of public prosecutions for 10 years before joining Legal Aid. She is now a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers and a member of the Legal Practice Board; and
Anette Schoombee from May 2 to July 1. Ms Schoombee was a partner with Freehills and now practices as a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers specialising in commercial and insurance litigation. In 2001 she was counsel assisting the Royal Commission into the Finance Broking Industry.