- Barrister David McCallum appointed as a new Judge of the WA District Court
- Mr McCallum has a significant background in criminal law
Experienced criminal lawyer David McCallum has been appointed as a Judge of the District Court of Western Australia. He fills the vacancy left by the resignation of long-time District Court Judge Michael Bowden and starts his new role in the judiciary on 3 August.
Admitted to practice in New South Wales in 2001 and WA in 2013, Mr McCallum began his legal career as a solicitor both in private practice and with the Kamilaroi Aboriginal Service. He also served for two years as an Associate to two Judges of the District Court of New South Wales.
Except during 2013 to 2014, when he worked as a State Prosecutor for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for WA, Mr McCallum has been a member of the independent Bar for the past 20 years. His principal area of practice has been in criminal law and has involved all aspects of criminal trial work.
Mr McCallum acted as a defence counsel predominantly but also as prosecution counsel, appearing in all WA courts and in multiple interstate jurisdictions, including New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
He was regularly briefed to appear in complex matters, including homicides and serious sexual offences, and developed a particular interest in representing victims of email scams duped into trafficking border-controlled drugs.
Mr McCallum has been recognised in a number of annual Doyle’s Guides as a recommended and leading WA criminal law barrister.
Before coming to the law, Mr McCallum worked in the rural, manufacturing and transport industries.
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
“I welcome the appointment of David McCallum as a Judge of the WA District Court.
“Highly regarded in the legal profession, he has built extensive expertise in the field of criminal law over the course of almost two decades as a barrister.
“Mr McCallum’s distinguished trial work history will make him ideally suited to presiding over matters in the District Court. I wish him well.”
