WA judge for Federal Court

Western Australian Supreme Court judge James Edelman has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.

Attorney-General George Brandis named Justice Edelman as the successor of outgoing Federal Court judge Peter Jacobson.

Justice Edelman has served as a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia since 2011, when at 37 years of age he became the youngest-ever judge to serve on the bench.

He will commence his new role based in Brisbane in April 2015.

In his announcement, Senator Brandis congratulated Justice Edelman and said he would be a great asset to the Federal Court bench.  

Justice Edelman serves on the Murdoch University dean’s external advisory group, and teaches as an adjunct professor at the University of Western Australia and the University of Queensland. He is also a conjunct professor of law at the University of New South Wales.

He was awarded a Rhodes scholarship in 1998 and obtained a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Oxford, where he has also lectured.

He was admitted to the bar in both Britain and Australia.

From 2001, he practised as a barrister at the chambers of former WA governor Malcolm McCusker, and has also practised in the UK.

Senator Brandis also announced the appointment of four judges to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia.

Alexander Street and Ian Newbrun will join the Sydney registry, Salvatore Vasta will commence in the Brisbane Registry and Justin Smith will join the Parramatta registry.