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Melissa Coade
Two new judicial officers have been appointed in the Victorian County Court, following the retirement of judges Graham Anderson and Roy Punshon.
Judge Graham Anderson sat on the Victorian County Court bench for 19 years, while Judge Roy Punshon served for 14 years. The vacancies they have left are now filled with the appointment of Aileen Ryan QC and Paul Higham respectively.
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Last week, Victorian Attorney-General Martin Pakula thanked the two retiring judges of the County Court for their dedication and service over the years. He added that the duo replacing the retired judicial officers enjoyed a good reputation within Victoria’s legal fraternity.
“Ms Ryan and Mr Higham are both highly respected members of Victoria’s legal community and will make excellent additions to the County Court,” the Attorney-General said.
Ms Ryan is a commercial law expert and specialist in professional indemnity insurance law. She has practised as a barrister in Victoria for 25 years and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2012.
She is a member of the Commercial Bar Association and the Bar’s Professional Standards Committee, as well as a member of the Victorian Legal Admissions Committee since 2008.
Mr Higham was admitted to the Victorian Bar in 2007, some three years after moving to Australia from the UK. He has appeared in a range of complex and high-profile cases, and worked on matters including cases relating to terrorism, rape, attempted murder, taxation fraud and drug importation offences.
According to a statement released by the Attorney-General’s department, Mr Higham has served as a member of Victorian Bar’s Equal Opportunity Committee and Sexual Assault Working Committee.
