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A “respected” criminal lawyer has been appointed as senior public defender for NSW.
Richard Wilson SC is the new senior public defender in NSW and will begin his seven-year term on 17 February.
He has worked as a public defender for the past 12 years, including as deputy senior public defender since 2018 and as acting senior public defender in 2024 and 2019. Prior to this, he was a barrister at Seventh Floor Garfield Barwick Chambers and, before that, deputy principal solicitor of the Aboriginal Legal Service.
He currently serves as co-chair of the national criminal law committee for the Law Council and of the Bugmy Bar Book Project.
Speaking about the appointment, NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said: “I am thrilled to announce the appointment of Richard Wilson SC as senior public defender.
“Mr Wilson is a long-time public defender who has proven himself as acting senior public defender since July last year. Public defenders play a significant role in our justice system, both in the courtroom and through advising the government on criminal justice reform.
“I congratulate Mr Wilson on his appointment.”
Public defenders, the A-G’s Department noted in a statement, are appointed under the Public Defenders Act 1995 and are salaried barristers, independent of the government, who appear in serious matters for clients who have been granted legal aid.
