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Two New Judges Appointed To The Supreme Court

19 December 2017

The Andrews Labor Government today announced the appointment of senior legal practitioners Michelle Quigley QC and John Champion SC as Judges of the Supreme Court.

Ms Quigley has three decades of experience as a legal practitioner, predominantly as a senior barrister specialising in administrative law, including planning and environmental law, and land value and acquisition. She has appeared regularly in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, the Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal.

Ms Quigley was awarded the PILCH/Law Foundation Pro Bono Award in 2000 for her assistance to the Abbotsford Convent Coalition in opposing the redevelopment of the Heritage Victoria listed St Heliers Convent. She was previously a Visiting Lecturer in Planning Law at the University of Melbourne from 1994 to 2006

Ms Quigley signed the Victorian Bar Roll in May 1988 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2002. She has a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne.

Ms Quigley’s appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court fills a vacancy created by the appointment of Justice Kim Hargrave to the Court of Appeal.

John Champion SC has been the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions since 2011. He has more than 40 years’ legal experience, predominantly in criminal law.

As Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Champion was the head of Victoria’s public prosecutions service and responsible for instituting, preparing and conducting serious criminal matters on behalf of the State. He appeared in a number of significant cases in the Court of Appeal, including DPP v Edwards (2012) 44 VR 114 and DPP v Walters (2015) 49 VR 356.

Prior to his role as the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Champion specialised in the prosecution of serious criminal cases, including murder, serious drug cases and white collar crime. Mr Champion was In-House Counsel at the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions from 1999 to 2005.

Mr Champion signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 1977 and became Senior Counsel in 2003. He has a Master of Laws from Monash University, and a Bachelor of Laws, as well as diplomas in Criminology and Corporations and Securities Law, from the University of Melbourne.

Following Mr Champion's appointment, Gavin Silbert QC will act as the Director of Public Prosecutions and Kerri Judd QC has been appointed as Acting Chief Crown Prosecutor. A new Director of Public Prosecutions will be appointed early next year.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Martin Pakula

“Ms Quigley and Mr Champion each bring a wealth of legal experience to the Supreme Court and I congratulate them on their appointments.”

“Ms Quigley’s far-ranging knowledge of administrative law, and Mr Champion’s experience as Director of Public Prosecutions, will make them invaluable assets for the Supreme Court of Victoria.”

“I would like to thank Justice Kim Hargrave for his service as a judge of the trial division and wish him well for his role on the Court of Appeal.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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