New appointments to the Supreme Court

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointments of Melanie Sloss SC and Michael Croucher SC to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Ms Sloss was first admitted to practice in Western Australia in 1980 and was later admitted to practice in Victoria in 1985.

Ms Sloss signed the Bar Roll in 1987 and went on to practice in commercial, corporations, resources and mining, trade practices, tax, administrative and constitutional law. She was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 2002.

Ms Sloss has been an active member of the Victorian Bar Council, being first elected in 2009 and subsequently serving as Junior Vice-Chairman and Senior Vice-Chairman before serving as Chair in 2012.

Mr Croucher was admitted to practice in 1997, signed the Bar Roll in 1999 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2011.

Mr Croucher’s principal area of practice is criminal law, in both trials and appeals.

He also practices in the areas of occupational health and safety, confiscation of proceeds of crime, inquests, investigations and inquiries.

Mr Coucher is a member of the Criminal Bar Association and has been the Association’s representative on numerous law reform issues including jury directions, evidence, criminal procedure and criminal appeals.

“I congratulate Ms Sloss and Mr Croucher on their appointments and look forward to their further contributions to the state’s legal system,” Mr Clark said.