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• The Hon. Justice Sam Vandongen appointed to Court of Appeal
• New appointment to fill recently vacated judicial position

Supreme Court judge the Hon. Justice Sam Vandongen has been appointed as a judge of the Court of Appeal.

Justice Vandongen has been on the bench of the Supreme Court since November 2022.

Prior to his Honour’s appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Vandongen had practiced as a barrister since 2008 in the areas of criminal law and commercial litigation and had extensive experience at trial.

Appointed a Senior Counsel in 2010, his Honour had extensive experience in appellate jurisdictions, including participating in more than 170 appeals before the Western Australian Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.

Admitted to practice in WA 30 years ago, Justice Vandongen was a Crown Prosecutor for the WA Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 1996 to 2004.

His Honour moved interstate to continue as a Crown Prosecutor in NSW before returning to WA in 2006, serving as a Consultant State Prosecutor for two years.

In 2017, whilst at the bar, his Honour received the Attorney General’s Community Service Law Award for his pro bono work and in acting as lead counsel for a man wrongly convicted of manslaughter.

Justice Vandongen’s appointment takes effect on 22 May 2023 following the Hon. Justice Graeme Murphy’s retirement.

As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:

“I congratulate Justice Vandongen on his appointment to the Court of Appeal.

“He has extensive experience conducting trials and participating in appeals in the WA Court of Appeal and the High Court of Australia.

“Justice Vandongen is a respected legal practitioner and highly regarded Supreme Court Judge.

“I would also like to thank Justice Murphy for his many years of exemplary service to the Western Australian community and wish him well in his retirement.”