Old Girl appointed as District Court Judge

POSTED May 3 2023 , News

Earlier today, Attorney General, John Quigley, appointed St Mary’s Old Girl, Magistrate Wendy Hughes (’99) as one of two new District Court of Western Australia Judges. 

Magistrate Hughes was admitted to practice in 2007 and worked at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions from 2006 to 2009 appearing regularly in all courts. She received the Hodge Award for Young Criminal Lawyer of the Year in 2009.

Ms Hughes was Managing Solicitor of the Criminal Law Unit and Duty Lawyer at the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia appearing in all jurisdictions on a variety of matters.

She was appointed as a Magistrate in 2019, presiding in the Children’s Court, where she will continue to serve as a District Court Judge for half the allocated time of the position.

According to Belinda Wong, the WA President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association, Ms Hughes is the first judge of Asian descent to be appointed to a superior court in Western Australia.

Ms Hughes will commence her new role on 22 May 2023. 

Attorney General John Quigley congratulated Ms Hughes on her appointment.

“Ms Hughes has served with distinction since her appointment as a magistrate presiding in the Children’s Court,” Mr Quigley said.

 “I would like to especially acknowledge that Ms Hughes is the first judge of Asian descent to be appointed to a superior court in Western Australia.

 “She has significant experience in a broad range of jurisdictions and is an award-winning criminal lawyer and skilled advocate and arbitrator.”