Quigley unveils legal appointments

Two experienced legal figures will join the Supreme Court bench in 2024, among a suite of appointments announced by Attorney General John Quigley this week.

District Court judge Kate Glancy and barrister Gary Cobby will begin with the Supreme Court on January 29, ahead of the resignations of Anthony Derrick and Jennifer Smith.

Judge Glancy brings experience from a long stint at the State Solicitor’s Office, where she worked for 25 years and rose to the position of deputy state solicitor.

Her work spanned a wide range of legal matters, as well as management and the coordination of the office’s involvement in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

She also provided legal advice to government during her time at the State Solicitor’s office.

Judge Glancy has served as a WA District Court judge for the past six years, presiding over criminal and civil cases.

Mr Cobby started work as a solicitor in 1990, has practiced as a barrister on the Independent Bar since 2008 and was appointed a senior counsel in 2018.

His areas of expertise included administrative law, contract and property matters, insolvency, mining law, proceeds of crime, professional negligence and succession.

“Kate Glancy and Gary Cobby are highly regarded in legal circles,” Mr Quigley said.

“Both have been involved in multiple, complex matters and acquired extensive court experience during legal careers spanning more than three decades.”

Their appointments came the same day as Jane Johnson was appointed as a magistrate of the Family Court of Western Australia.

Ms Johnson has worked as a solicitor for Kim Wilson & Co, specialising in family and divorce law for the past 16 years, and became an accredited family law specialist in 2015.

She previously worked in family law in a private practice for 18 years while in New Zealand.

“I congratulate Jane Johnson on being appointed a Magistrate of the Family Court of WA,” Mr Quigley said.

“She has served with distinction across two jurisdictions.

“Her extensive experience spans all aspects of family law including care arrangements for children, child support, parenting issues, spousal maintenance and property and financial settlements.”

Ms Johnson will commence her new role on January 1.

The state has also permanently appointed Helen De Brito as the new director of Legal Aid Western Australia.

An experienced criminal lawyer, Ms De Brito has been acting in the role since May, following the resignation of Graham Hill who left to become WA state solicitor.

She has worked at Legal Aid WA since beginning her legal career in 2005 and has previously managed the legal practice development division, the criminal law division, the graduate program and the country lawyers program.

Ms De Brito is also credited with establishing Legal Aid WA’s virtual office service and establishing wellness mentors in the organisation, while her work in setting duty lawyer hubs during the pandemic was awarded Best Practice in Innovation – COVID 2022 by the Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Lastly, State Solicitor’s Office senior assistant state counsel Jean Shaw and The University of Western Australia School of Law associate professor Meredith Blake have been appointed board members of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia.

The pair will contribute to the commission’s work in helping develop WA’s legislation, by examining matters of law referred directly by the Attorney General and making reform recommendations.

Ms Blake will become the body’s part-time academic member, and Ms Shaw will become its part-time member from the State Solicitor’s Office.

They replace Kirsten Chivers and Professor Sarah Murray on the board.

Retired Justice Lindy Jenkins will continue as chair of the commission, having been reappointed for a further two years.