TWO new magistrates have been appointed to Launceston.
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Attorney-General Lara Giddings yesterday announced Launceston-based lawyer Robert Pearce and Victorian Magistrate Reg Marron as the replacements for retiring Chief Magistrate Arnold Shott and Magistrate Zygmunt Szramka.
"It is pleasing that we have been able to find two outstanding candidates to fill the vacancies in Launceston and I congratulate both our new magistrates on their appointment," Ms Giddings said.
Ms Giddings said Mr Pearce was highly respected within the legal profession and had more than 24 years' experience as a legal practitioner.
He has been a partner at local firm Douglas and Collins since 1990 and has served as chairman of both the Legal Profession's Disciplinary Tribunal and the Tasmanian Racing Appeal Board.
He has also had extensive experience appearing as a lawyer in the Tasmanian Magistrates and Supreme courts and the Federal Court.
Mr Pearce will take up his appointment on August 3.
Mr Marron will return to Launceston, his home town, after working as the regional co-ordinating magistrate for north-east Victoria.
Born in Launceston, he practised in Tasmania for several years after graduating from the University of Tasmania's law school.
He was appointed as a magistrate in Victoria in 2003 and was elevated to his current position three years later.
"In addition to his work as a former barrister and current magistrate, Mr Marron received further praise for his advocacy teaching, and for the mentoring programs he supported for law students," Ms Giddings said.
He will take up his appointment on August 17.
Tasmanian Law Society president Luke Rheinberger yesterday welcomed both appointments.
"Both men are outstanding choices and very suitable for the positions," he said.
"I personally know Robert Pearce from my years working in Launceston and he is an excellent lawyer."
Mr Rheinberger also praised Ms Giddings's appointment of Hobart-based Magistrate Michael Hill to the position of Chief Magistrate for the State.
"Mike has the runs on the board - he has a lot of experience and has been working as deputy chief for nine years, so it's another good choice from the society's perspective," he said.
Ms Giddings said Mr Hill's legal career spanned 37 years and included stints acting as a judge in the Tasmanian Supreme Court. All three men were selected under the State Government's new protocol for judicial appointments.
Ms Giddings said the protocol included local and national vacancy advertisements, assessment of candidates against published selection criteria, and the capacity for the Attorney-General to seek the views of legal profession stakeholders.
Mr Hill was appointed after a selection process advised by a panel comprising former Governor and retired Chief Justice William Cox, former Tasmanian and Commonwealth director of public prosecutions Damien Bugg, and Victorian Chief Magistrate Ian Gray.