A Crown prosecutor and a judicial registrar have been appointed to the Local Court of NSW.
Two “highly respected legal practitioners”, David Coulton and James Howard, were appointed to the Local Court of NSW last week, the state’s Attorney-General’s Department noted in a statement.
Coulton and Howard each bring significant legal and public service experience to the bench, the department continued, and will commence in their new roles on 23 February.
Coulton, admitted in 2009, is a Crown prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and has over three decades of experience across criminal law, policing, and public service. Before joining the ODPP in 2011, he spent 17 years with the NSW Police Force.
Howard has been a judicial registrar of the District Court of NSW since 2012. He previously filled senior registrar and mediation roles in the Supreme Court of NSW and worked with the Crown Solicitor’s Office. He was awarded the NSW Police Commissioner’s Unit Citation in 2003 for meritorious service, the department noted.
Speaking about the appointments, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said: “I am proud to appoint these two outstanding practitioners who have made exceptional contributions to the legal profession.
“Mr Coulton’s extensive background in law enforcement and criminal prosecution, and Mr Howard’s deep experience in court administration and mediation, will be invaluable to the Local Court.
“I congratulate them on their appointments and thank them for their continued service to the administration of justice in NSW.”
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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