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Senior Crown Prosecutor Appointed To County Court

14 June 2017

Attorney-General Martin Pakula today announced the appointment of Senior Crown Prosecutor Douglas Trapnell QC as a new judge of the County Court.

Mr Trapnell brings more than 30 years of legal experience to his new role, including 14 years spent as a Senior Crown Prosecutor and Crown Prosecutor for the Office of Public Prosecutions.

After signing the Victorian Bar Roll in 1983, Mr Trapnell worked in private practice and as a sessional tutor in torts, contract and administrative law at Monash University before becoming a barrister in 1986.

From 1995 to 1999 he was the Director of Research at the Victorian Law Reform Committee, leading a range of inquiries into the Victorian jury system, medical negligence, and technology and the law.

Mr Trapnell has significant experience as a Crown Prosecutor – he was appointed in 2003 and became a Senior Counsel in 2008, before being appointed a Senior Crown Prosecutor in 2010 and a Queen’s Counsel in 2014.

He has extensive experience in all aspects of criminal law and has appeared before all Victorian jurisdictions, including the Court of Appeal.

Mr Trapnell has also appeared before coronial inquiries, courts martial and disciplinary and tribunal matters.

He was an infantry officer in the Australian Army Reserve from 1975 to 1988 and holds a Bachelor of Economics, and a Bachelor and Masters of Law from Monash University.

Mr Trapnell’s appointment follows the retirement of Judge Geoffrey Chettle, who retired in April 2017 after more than 13 years at the County Court.

Judge Chettle will continue to sit as a reserve judge of the County Court on a part-time basis.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula

“Mr Trapnell brings a wealth of experience to his new role and I congratulate him on his appointment.”

“His skills in both criminal and commercial law will make him a valuable addition to the County Court.”

“I also extend my thanks to Judge Chettle for his many years of service at the County Court and I wish him well in his role as a reserve judge.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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