- Justice Jennifer Hilda Smith appointed Auxiliary Judge of the Supreme Court of WA
- Justice Smith’s appointment follows seven years on the Supreme Court bench
Attorney General John Quigley has announced the appointment of Justice Jennifer Smith as an Auxiliary Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Justice Smith will commence the 12-month appointment immediately following her mandatory retirement as a Judge of the Supreme Court in June.
She has presided in the Court since 2017, principally over civil trials on commercial matters.
Justice Smith was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in the State of Western Australia in 1987.
Justice Smith spent the first 12 years of her career as a legal practitioner at the Crown Solicitor’s Office and was appointed Senior Assistant Crown Counsel in 1997.
During that time, she practised extensively in the District and Supreme Court as a Crown prosecutor in criminal trials.
Justice Smith also provided advice in industrial matters, administrative law, criminal law and personal injuries matters.
She represented the State of Western Australia and Government agencies in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (now the Fair Work Commission).
Justice Smith has held the positions of Commissioner, Senior Commissioner and Acting President of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
During her career, she has lectured in constitutional law for the Barristers Board (now Legal Practice Board) and given papers on employment and industrial law.
Justice Smith will begin her new role on 5 June.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“Justice Smith is a highly regarded judge and I am pleased that the Supreme Court will continue to benefit from her extensive experience.
“She has ably presided over lengthy and complex commercial matters, as well as criminal trials and appeals.
“Justice Smith previously played a prominent role in national and State industrial relations bodies and was the first woman president of the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission.
“She is eminently suitable to continue serving the Supreme Court in the role of an Auxiliary Judge.”
