- District Court Judge becomes new Deputy President of the State Administrative Tribunal
- Fiona Vernon practised as a Solicitor and Barrister in commercial law
Attorney General John Quigley has appointed District Court Judge and experienced legal practitioner Fiona Vernon as a Deputy President of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).
Judge Vernon came to the District Court bench after more than three decades in the private legal sector.
Admitted to practise in 1985, Judge Vernon worked at a number of legal firms in Perth as a Solicitor, Senior Associate and Consultant for almost 25 years.
She then joined the Bar in 2010 and acted as a private Barrister from Francis Burt Chambers until her appointment as a District Court Judge six years ago.
Her areas of expertise include commercial law, equity, insurance, taxation, and trade practices and, as a Barrister, she appeared as counsel at trial in most courts.
She was also Chairwoman of the Child and Adolescent Health Service Human Research Ethics Committee, a Member of the Allocations Committee of the Law Society Public Purposes Trust, and Deputy Convenor of the Law Society of Western Australia’s Ethics Committee.
Judge Vernon fills the SAT vacancy left by new Supreme Court Justice and former District Court Judge Kate Glancy.
She starts her five-year term as SAT Deputy President on 7 February 2024.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“Judge Fiona Vernon is highly regarded in the legal profession and her appointment reinforces the State Administrative Tribunal’s judicial leadership.
“With an extensive legal career spanning more than 30 years prior to becoming a Judge, she will enhance the tribunal’s resolution of matters as it manages high caseloads.
“Judge Vernon has served as a District Court Judge with distinction and is very well qualified to preside as Deputy President of SAT.”
