Three sitting judges from South Australia’s Supreme Court will transfer to the State’s new Court of Appeal, which will commence from the start of next year.
Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said Justices Trish Kelly, David Lovell and Sam Doyle will make up the remaining members of the Court, with Justice Kelly appointed as the Court’s President.
“All three Justices were Queen’s Counsel or Senior Council, and have combined experience of nearly a century in the legal profession,” Ms Chapman said.
“Justice Kelly is one of the most senior members of the judiciary in South Australia, and will be an excellent leader for this new Court.
“In a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years, she has been a Supreme Court Judge, a District Court Judge, and a prosecutor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and South Australia’s Office of the DPP.
“Justice Kelly has presided over numerous complex, high-profile matters and clearly has the expertise to preside over this court.
“Justice Lovell has also worked in the legal profession for more than four decades – including in private practice, as Judge in the District Court, at the Crown Prosecution Office (now DPP) and, most recently, the Supreme Court.
“With 22 years in the sector, Justice Doyle has extensive experience in commercial and civil law, as well as criminal appeals – with five years’ experience as a Supreme Court Judge.”
“They will join two recent appointments to the bench – Justices Livesey and Bleby,” she said.
Ms Chapman said the composition of the Court would ensure that it was well equipped to handle its appellate work.
Established after amendments to the Supreme Court Act 1935 were made late last year, the new Court of Appeal is a division of the Supreme Court
“The Court of Appeal represents a significant change to the way appeals are managed in the Supreme Court. With dedicated Justices, the Court of Appeal will develop specific judicial expertise in appeals, leading to increased efficiencies and consistent, high-quality judgements,” Ms Chapman said.
“Dedicated Courts of Appeal have been operating successfully in many other jurisdictions for several years, and I look forward to the commencement of the new Court of Appeal on January 1,” she said.
