Olá to the Ambassador of Brazil and a hat trick of appointments

A hat trick of appointments

The three appointees with the Governor.

Three people were today sworn in as Magistrates under the Western Australian court system.

Ms Janie Gibbs is read her appointment.

Ms Janie Gibbs was the first to be sworn in as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Western Australia, followed by being sworn as a Magistrate of the Children’s Court of Western Australia. Ms Gibbs was admitted to practice in 2001 and was engaged by Legal Aid for a decade. Prior to admission as a Solicitor, Ms Gibbs was a Legal Researcher with the Noongar Land Council. From March 2011 until January 2017 she was the Principal Lawyer and Director of Gibbs Legal. Since then, Ms Gibbs has worked with Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS), serving as a Managing Lawyer. With extensive experience in criminal law, having dealt with matters on Children’s Court, District and Supreme courts as well as traffic matters and restraining orders, she has appeared for people in serious indictable matters and is a regular court advocate.

Mr Anthony Sullivan signs his appointment.

Following Ms Gibbs appointment, Mr Anthony Sullivan was sworn in as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court and of the Children’s Court of Western Australia. Mr Sullivan was admitted to practice in 2005 with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP). He held a variety of positions with the ODPP including as a State Prosecutor, Legal Officer and Articled Clerk. Mr Sullivan has also served as a Research Assistant, an Articled Clerk with the Legislative Council Committee Office Parliament of Western Australia and as a Solicitor with Legal Aid Western Australia. On a daily basis Mr Sullivan interacts with individuals facing a range of State and Commonwealth criminal offences and also actively participates in law reform issues, providing input into proposed legislative changes, through the preparation of draft discussion papers and responses to legal requests from other Government agencies. He has primarily practised as an advocate in the area of criminal law including as trial and appeal counsel in the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts.

Ms Kelly Thompson extends her thanks to those who have supported her.

Finally, the last appointment of the day was Ms Kelly Thompson, who was also sworn in as a Magistrate of the Magistrates Court and of the Children’s Court of Western Australia. Ms Thompson was admitted to practice in Queensland in 2006 and was engaged as a Solicitor with Robertson O’Gorman Solicitors and a private law firm in Brisbane – predominantly having carriage of criminal defence files ranging from Magistrates Court charges through to murder trials and appeals. Ms Thompson has also served as a lawyer with the Proceeds of Crime team with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs in London, as well as taking on the role of Parliamentary Chief of Staff for an Independent Member of Parliament (Federal) for a period of time before being employed as a Lawyer with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Qld). Currently, she works with Aboriginal Legal Service (ALS) as a Senior Lawyer and acting Managing Lawyer and is a senior advocate within the criminal law section of the Aboriginal Legal Service – acting for clients charged with minor through to complex criminal charges. Ms Thompson also acts as Manager of the Criminal law unit in Perth. She appears regularly in the Magistrates, Children’s (Magistrate and President), District and Supreme Courts in relation to the full spectrum of criminal law work, including advice, bail applications, pleas in mitigation, pre-trial hearings and multi-day trials.

The Governor read each appointment aloud to the family, friends and colleagues who gathered to bear witness.