Perth barrister Neil McKerracher QC has been appointed as a judge to the Federal Court of Australia.
Perth barrister Neil McKerracher QC has been appointed as a judge to the Federal Court of Australia.
Mr McKerracher has practised as a solicitor in Western Australia since 1975 and as a barrister since 1990. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997. Mr McKerracher has practised extensively in the areas of commercial and civil litigation.
In 2006, Mr McKerracher was appointed as an Acting Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia. He has also served as a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and, when required, has sat as a Senior Sessional Member of the State Administrative Tribunal (WA).
Mr McKerracher will take up his appointment on 15 October 2007 and will be based in Perth.
Below is the full announcement:
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock today announced the appointments of four new judges to the Federal Court of Australia.
"Today I welcome the appointments of Dr Geoffrey Flick SC, Mr John Logan RFD SC, Mr Neil McKerracher QC and Mr John Reeves QC," Mr Ruddock said.
"I look forward to them making a positive contribution to the law in their new capacity. Their considerable experience will be a great asset to the Federal Court."
Dr Flick has practised as a barrister in New South Wales since 1982 and was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 1993. He is the author of several legal publications, including Natural Justice, Civil Liberties in Australia, Federal Administrative Law, Federal Court Practice, and High Court Practice.
Dr Flick has been a member of a number of committees and advisory groups at the Law Council of Australia and the Australian Law Reform Commission. He is also a former Director of Research at the Administrative Review Council.
Dr Flick will take up his appointment on 15 October 2007 and will be based in Sydney.
Mr Logan worked for the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department in Queensland before beginning work as a barrister in 1984. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 1999.
Mr Logan was also admitted to practice in Fiji on a case specific basis between 2004 and 2006. He has practised with particular focus on litigation in constitutional and administrative law, revenue and general commercial and industrial law.
In 1990 Mr Logan was appointed as counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. He has also served on a number of Queensland Bar committees and Queensland's Law Reporting Council.
Mr Logan will take up his appointment on 27 September 2007 and will be based in Brisbane.
Mr McKerracher has practised as a solicitor in Western Australia since 1975 and as a barrister since 1990. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997. Mr McKerracher has practised extensively in the areas of commercial and civil litigation.
In 2006, Mr McKerracher was appointed as an Acting Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia. He has also served as a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of Western Australia and, when required, has sat as a Senior Sessional Member of the State Administrative Tribunal (WA).
Mr McKerracher will take up his appointment on 15 October 2007 and will be based in Perth.
Mr Reeves was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1975. He has practised as a barrister in Darwin since 1985 prior to being appointed Queen's Counsel in 1997. Mr Reeves' practice has focussed mainly on commercial and common law matters.
In 1997 Mr Reeves was appointed Reviewer of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth). He served as a Member of the House of Representatives in 1983-84 and has held several positions with the Northern Territory Bar Association including those of Vice President and President. Mr Reeves is also a Past Vice President of the Australian Bar Association.
At the time of his appointment, Mr Reeves was serving as a member of the Prime Minister's Northern Territory National Emergency Response Taskforce.
Mr Reeves will take up his appointment on 19 November 2007 and will be based in Darwin. He will also travel to other cities as required by the work of the Federal Court.
