New appointment to the Court of Appeal

Attorney-General Robert Clark today announced the appointment of Justice Simon Whelan to the Court of Appeal.

Mr Clark said Justice Whelan will bring a wealth of experience to the Court of Appeal.

“After being admitted to practice in 1978 and joining the Bar in 1981, Justice Whelan built a reputation as a highly skilled and capable barrister specialising in commercial law,” Mr Clark said.

“Justice Whelan was also a Visiting Fellow at the University of Melbourne law school between 1993 and 1996.

“His outstanding contribution to the law was recognised in 1995, when he was appointed a Queen’s Counsel, and again in 2004 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

“On the bench, Justice Whelan has been one of the Court’s leading commercial law judges, while also hearing a wide variety of criminal and other cases.”

In 2007, Justice Whelan was appointed as a judicial member of the Adult Parole Board, and he has served as Chair of the Board since 2008.

Prior to his appointment to the bench, Justice Whelan was well known as one of the “Coodabeen Champions”.

Justice Whelan will take up the position recently vacated by the retirement of Justice Hartley Hansen.

“With over 30 years of legal experience, Justice Whelan brings to the Court of Appeal a great depth and diversity of expertise and experience,” Mr Clark said.

“I look forward to Justice Whelan’s ongoing contribution to Victoria’s judicial system.”