Attorney-General Martin Pakula has appointed three top barristers to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria today.
Abigail Burchill, Carolyn Burnside and David Starvaggi have been appointed as magistrates after forging highly successful legal careers.
Abigail Burchill was a senior solicitor with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions before joining the Victorian Bar in 2011.
Ms Burchill has dealt with matters including drug importations, cybercrime, Medicare fraud and cultural heritage.
A Dja Dja Wurrung Yorta Yorta woman, Ms Burchill was the Director of Aboriginal Housing Victoria and also sat on the Victorian Bar’s Indigenous Lawyers’ Committee.
Carolyn Burnside signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 1993 and has dedicated the past decade of her career to prosecuting sexual assault and family violence cases for the Office of Public Prosecutions.
Ms Burnside is an active member of the Victorian Bar having held positions on its managing council and various committees, including the Criminal Bar Association and the Victorian Bar Ethics Committee.
David Starvaggi recently served as Chairman of the Springvale Monash Legal Service, and has been on its board since 2003.
Mr Starvaggi has practiced in all areas of criminal, family and civil law, and is a dedicated legal educator who has taught advocacy skills at Monash University for almost 15 years.
Mr Starvaggi also possesses wide-ranging knowledge of road safety laws, and has conducted training for Victoria Police prosecutors on national heavy vehicle laws.
Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula
“Mr Starvaggi, Ms Burnside and Ms Burchill are highly experienced barristers and I congratulate them on their appointments to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.”
“I look forward to seeing their continued contribution to the community as magistrates.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020