Mr Heaton’s legal career has spanned more than three decades, beginning as a legal officer with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in 1989, where he eventually became deputy director of public prosecutions in 2016 and was appointed as the director of public prosecutions in 2020. He has also served as a Crown prosecutor and deputy public defender with Legal Aid Queensland.

Mr Treviño has been a defence lawyer in the Cairns region for the past 18 years, having been called to the Bar in 2005 and appointed senior counsel in 2020. He is the chair of the regional issues committee of the Bar Association of Queensland.

Mr Power has been a barrister for over 26 years and appeared as counsel assisting in the Disability Royal Commission and at the Grantham flood inquiry. He has also served as principal Crown prosecutor for the Mental Health Court chambers within the Brisbane office of the ODPP, after serving as principal Crown prosecutor for appeals to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Heaton KC will sit in Brisbane, while Mr Treviño KC will preside in Cairns, and Mr Power KC will be in Ipswich.

Speaking about the appointments, A-G D’Ath said: “The three new judges possess impeccable credentials and will be assets to the District Court.

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“All three have gained tremendous experience over a long period of time and are richly deserving of their appointments. The appointments form part of the government’s commitment of more than $34 million over the next four financial years to court operations and services.

“The three additional positions will assist the court to give Queenslanders access to the justice system in a timely manner without unreasonable delays for defendants and victims.”