- Genevieve Cleary appointed a Judge of the District Court of WA
- Magistrate Cleary has a strong background in criminal law
Attorney General John Quigley has announced the appointment of Magistrate Genevieve Cleary as a Judge of the District Court of Western Australia.
Admitted to practise in WA and Victoria in 1990, Magistrate Cleary spent the first 11 years of her legal career as a solicitor in private practice and at Legal Aid WA.
Prior to her appointment as a Magistrate in 2020, she was a barrister practicing in Criminal Law with experience in youth justice, care and protection, family and civil law.
Magistrate Cleary was also a State Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and regularly appeared in the Children’s Court and Drug Court.
She has held several academic positions at the University of WA, University of Notre Dame and Murdoch University, primarily in criminal law and evidence.
Magistrate Cleary also gained committee and board experience, including administration of the Perth Drug Court, Commissioner of Legal Aid WA and a Director of Francis Burt Chambers.
During her career, Ms Cleary regularly appeared as Counsel in Supreme Court, and District Court trials.
As a barrister she appeared extensively in the Supreme Court and Magistrate’s Court as trial counsel and civil appeals in the District Court.
She is an accredited mediator and has a Masters in Law, Policy and Government.
Magistrate Cleary will start her new role on 8 February 2024.
Comments attributed to Attorney General John Quigley:
“Magistrate Cleary is highly regarded in the legal field and I am pleased to see her appointed as a Judge of the District Court of Western Australia.
“Her extensive experience as both a magistrate and a barrister across criminal law, youth justice, family and civil law, makes her an ideal choice to preside over District Court matters.
“She has also made significant contributions to education and mentoring in the legal field.”
