“Deputy chief magistrate Lauritsen has an excellent relationship with the legal profession, of which he has been a member since 1975. For the first 12 years of his legal career he worked as a solicitor in a suburban law firm,” said LIV president Michael Holcroft.

“Deputy chief magistrate Lauritsen is highly regarded and well known for being consultative.

“[He] has wide-ranging expertise in court management and we are confident he will oversee the state’s largest court in an efficient and progressive manner.

“I join with the legal profession in welcoming deputy chief magistrate Lauritsen’s appointment and wishing him every success in his new position.”

Lauritsen took office on 29 November, when former chief magistrate Ian Gray took up his appointment as a County Court judge and State Coroner.

“The LIV also thanks chief magistrate Gray for his 10 years at the helm of the Magistrates’ Court and wishes him well in his new roles,” Holcroft added.