New appointments take Local Court bench to all time record

30 Mar 2022

The appointment of four new magistrates to the Local Court of NSW will bolster the NSW Government’s $56.1 million investment in the state’s busiest court system, helping to deliver more efficient justice.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said new magistrates Te’res Sia, Mark Whelan, Rana Daher and Rami Attia bring more than eight decades of experience to the bench.

“The appointments of Ms Sia and Mr Whelan fulfil the commitment made in last year’s budget to fund eight additional magistrates to ease the pressure on the Local Court. Ms Daher and Mr Attia are replacing outgoing magistrates,” Mr Speakman said.

“We now have 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.”

Ms Sia and Mr Whelan will commence duty in April, rounding out the eight additional magistrates funded in the 2021-22 Budget. Ms Daher and Mr Attia commence duty in May and replace departing magistrates.

Biographies:

Te’res Sia

Ms Sia joined Legal Aid NSW in 2002 where she is a Senior Solicitor and Accredited Specialist in Children’s Law.

Mark Whelan

Mr Whelan is a Principal Lawyer and Accredited Specialist in Family Law and Children’s Law (Care and Protection).

Rana Daher

Ms Daher started at Legal Aid NSW in 2001. She joined the Children’s Court of NSW in 2008 where she is a Children’s Registrar.

Rami Attia

Mr Attia joined the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a solicitor in 1993. In private practice since 1997, he is a Principal Lawyer with JR Lawyers.