- District Court Judge and Senior Counsel appointed as Supreme Court Judges
- The new Justices, Kate Glancy and Gary Cobby, will replace two outgoing Justices
- Judge Glancy also appointed State Administrative Tribunal Supplementary President
Attorney General John Quigley is pleased to announce the appointment of District Court Judge Kate Glancy and barrister Gary Cobby as Judges of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Both will commence in their new roles on 29 January 2024 ahead of the resignations of Justices Anthony Derrick and Jennifer Smith.
Admitted to practice in 1994 after a year as an articled clerk with the WA State Solicitor’s Office, Judge Glancy spent 25 years at the SSO rising to the position of Deputy State Solicitor.
Her work there included prosecutions, commercial drafting and advice, civil litigation, Native Title litigation, mining law, advice to Government on public law matters, and public law litigation.
She also helped manage the SSO and was responsible for co-ordinating the SSO’s involvement in the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
For almost six years, Judge Glancy has served as a WA District Court Judge presiding over numerous criminal and civil cases.
Mr Cobby SC worked as a solicitor for several legal firms from 1990 when he was admitted to practice through to 2008.
Over the subsequent 15 years, he practised as a barrister on the Independent Bar appearing regularly in complex commercial trials.
Mr Cobby was appointed a Senior Counsel in 2018.
His areas of expertise included administrative law, contract and property matters, insolvency, mining law, proceeds of crime, professional negligence and succession.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“Kate Glancy and Gary Cobby are highly regarded in legal circles.
“Both have been involved in multiple, complex matters and acquired extensive court experience during legal careers spanning more than three decades.
“Judge Glancy becomes a Supreme Court Justice after her distinguished service as a Judge of the WA District Court and as a Deputy State Solicitor.
“At the State Solicitor’s Office, she also provided legal advice to Cabinet, Ministers and Directors General of Government departments and agencies.
“Mr Cobby comes to the judiciary with a strong commercial litigation background in the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal. He also acted pro bono throughout his time at the WA Bar.
“He has made a significant contribution to the regulation of the WA legal profession, which saw him appointed Chairperson of the Legal Services and Complaints Committee earlier this year.
“They are eminently qualified to join the Supreme Court bench and I congratulate them on their appointment.”
