Three new magistrates for the local court

1 June 2022

The appointment of three new magistrates to the Local Court of NSW will support the NSW Government’s $56.1 million investment in the state’s busiest court system, continuing the delivery of more efficient justice.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said new magistrates Aaron Tang, Don McLennan and Pauline Wright bring almost nine decades of experience to the bench.

“These appointees bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the NSW Local Court, having worked across a range of areas in legal practice,” Mr Speakman said.

“The NSW Local Court is the engine room of the judicial system, with a record 149 magistrates overseeing a caseload equal to 96 per cent of criminal prosecutions and 90 per cent of civil matters before the state’s courts.”

Mr Tang will be sworn in on 7 June, Mr McLennan on 8 June and Ms Wright on 9 June 2022.

Biographies:

Aaron Tang

With more than 20 years’ experience as a criminal lawyer, Mr Tang is a Senior Lawyer at Legal Aid NSW, where he has worked across the Local, Children’s and District Courts. He was a senior legal officer with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Don McLennan

The Manager of Coronial Services NSW and Executive Officer to the NSW State Coroner, Mr McLennan started his career with the NSW Police Force in 1984. He has worked as a police prosecutor, legal review officer for NSW Police and a senior coronial advocate.

Pauline Wright

Ms Wright started her legal career in 1985 and is currently a Partner at PJ Donnellan & Co. A former President of the Law Society of NSW and President of the Law Council of Australia, she is an accredited specialist in local government and planning law and has extensive criminal law experience.

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