New appointment to Magistrates’ Court of Victoria

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Mr Patrick Southey to the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.

Mr Clark said Mr Southey is a highly regarded barrister whose extensive experience both as prosecutor and as defence counsel will make him a valuable addition to the bench.

“Joining the Victorian Bar in 1990, Mr Southey has built a distinguished legal career, working as a barrister and Crown Prosecutor in Victoria, and also as a Senior Public Defender in the Solomon Islands,” Mr Clark said.

“Mr Southey has extensive experience of many aspects of the Victorian justice system and has been responsible for prosecuting complex criminal trials in the Supreme Court and County Court, as well as Magistrates’ Court committals.

“Mr Southey’s service as Senior Public Defender in the Solomon Islands involved defence of persons in High Court and Magistrates’ Court trials as well as appeals to the Court of Appeal, including a number of murder cases.

“Throughout his career, Mr Southey has played an active role in providing mentoring and training for younger lawyers. He has also helped to further legal education in Australia and overseas, sitting as a member of the South Pacific Education Committee and the Indigenous Lawyers Committee of the Victorian Bar.

Mr Southey studied law at Canberra’s Australian National University and holds a Diploma of Criminology from Melbourne University.

“The Magistrates’ Court and the Victorian public will be well served by Mr Southey’s dedication and experience,” Mr Clark said.

“I congratulate Mr Southey on his appointment, and look forward to his contribution to the Court and the Victorian judicial system in the future.”