Attorney General John Quigley has today announced the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Janine Pritchard as President of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for a five-year term, beginning on June 4, 2019.
Justice Pritchard is a highly experienced judicial officer who was admitted to practice in Western Australia in December 1993.
In 1991, Justice Pritchard joined the then Crown Solicitor’s Office (now the State Solicitor’s Office) and worked in that office until her appointment to the bench.
Her primary areas of practice were administrative law, constitutional law, freedom of information and privacy law, industrial law and prosecution of regulatory offences.
Justice Pritchard previously served as Deputy President of the SAT after her appointment to the District Court of Western Australia in June 2009.
She was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in June 2010 and as a judge of the Court of Appeal in September 2018.
Justice Pritchard will maintain her commissions as a judge of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal.
As stated by Attorney General John Quigley:
“I am delighted a jurist of the calibre of Justice Pritchard will steer the SAT well into the next decade, giving the community renewed confidence in the Tribunal which plays a central mediation and arbitration role in issues of great importance to ordinary Western Australians.
“Justice Pritchard will become the first woman to serve as President of this crucial arm of Western Australia’s justice system since the inception of the Tribunal 14 years ago.
“Justice Pritchard will join other women at the helm of the State’s justice system, including Justice Gail Sutherland at the Family Court of WA, Judge Julie Wager at the Children’s Court and State Coroner Ros Fogliani.
“I would like to also thank both of the existing Deputy Presidents of the Tribunal who have continued to provide dedicated service to the State in the period since the former President, Justice Curthoys, returned to the Supreme Court.
“In particular, I acknowledge Deputy President Sharp who has carried out the role of Acting President during that time.”
