Three accomplished lawyers appointed to District Court

13 July 2022

Three accomplished NSW lawyers have been appointed to the District Court of NSW, each bringing to the court a depth of knowledge and experience as legal practitioners.

Huw Baker SC, William Fitzsimmons SC and Pauline David will join the ranks of the judiciary after outstanding careers in the legal profession, spanning many decades.

Attorney General Mark Speakman said Mr Baker, Mr Fitzsimmons and Ms David are all highly skilled practitioners who have dedicated their careers to the service of the law and the pursuit of just outcomes.

“In carrying out their duties as District Court judges, they will each continue to draw on the considerable skill, experience and knowledge they have gained as lawyers, for the benefit of the court and the community it serves,” Mr Speakman said.

Huw Baker SC will be sworn in on 21 July 2022, William Fitzsimmons SC on 28 July 2022 and Pauline David on 1 August 2022.

Biographies

Huw Baker SC

Huw Baker SC has worked in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for nearly 30 years. He was appointed a Crown Prosecutor in 2005, Senior Counsel in September 2017, an Acting Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in March 2018 and a Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions in June 2019. Prior to this, he worked as a solicitor, and then as a trial advocate, in the DPP’s Sydney and Western Sydney offices.

William Fitzsimmons SC

William Fitzsimmons SC has more than 30 years’ specialist litigation experience across criminal law professional indemnity, public liability, insurance, administrative, personal injury and common law. He was called to the NSW Bar in 1990 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2019. He has undertaken complex criminal prosecution work for the Commonwealth DPP and has been recognised for his leadership and mentoring within the legal profession.

Pauline David

Pauline David is a barrister with more than 30 years’ practice as a specialist criminal lawyer and advocate. She has also been engaged as an international law and justice advisor for the past 20 years in cases involving money laundering, proceeds of crime and counter terrorism in Asia, Africa and former Soviet countries. Prior to being called to the Bar, Ms David was a senior solicitor and advocate in both public and private practice. 

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