2PM UPDATE: Two new magistrates have been appointed to fill vacant positions in the North and North-West.
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Sharon Cure and Andrew McKee will take up their positions on January 12 and December 8 respectively.
Their appointments fill vacancies created by the retirements of magistrates Tim Hill and Don Jones. Ms Cure will be based in Launceston and Mr McKee in Devonport.
Ms Cure completed a Bachelor of Education at the University of Tasmania and taught in Hobart and New Norfolk before returning to university to study law.
She graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1989 and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1990.
Her professional experience includes the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions as a solicitor and as a barrister at the Victorian Bar. Since December 2008 she has been a Victorian magistrate.
Mr McKee was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1992.
He has previously worked as a duty solicitor for the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania and several law firms as a solicitor and senior associate. He is currently employed in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as a principal Crown counsel.
Mr McKee has been the chair of the Parole Board and is currently a volunteer at the Hobart Community Legal Centre.
He is an executive member of the Law Society Council and a former vice-president of the Law Society of Tasmania.
EARLIER: The Attorney-General Vanessa Goodwin will announce the two new magistrates for the North and North-West this afternoon.
The Examiner understands that the new magistrate for Launceston will be a woman from Victoria who has experience as both a barrister and judicial officer. She will start in January.
It is also understood that the successful candidate for the North-West is a highly-regarded Hobart lawyer, who will start next month. He formerly practiced on the Coast.
The Examiner reported last week that chief magistrate Michael Hill was hopeful that an announcement would be made before the end of the month.
The North and North-West have been without two judicial officers since experienced magistrates Tim Hill and Don Jones retired from the bench in August.
The Law Society of Tasmania revealed last month that it had been consulted about two candidates in early October and had no objection to those names, so president Matthew Verney could not see any reason for the delay.
