A total of four new judges joined the court's bench
Victoria’s Attorney-General has announced the appointment of judge Rose Falla to the County Court – the first Aboriginal person to join the court’s bench.
Falla has served as a magistrate in Victoria since January 2013. She was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed magistrate in the state.
During her 13 years as a magistrate, she sat in the criminal division of the Magistrates’ Court, hearing both indictable and summary matters, including sexual offence proceedings. In 2020, she became the inaugural supervising magistrate for Koori Justice; in that role, she oversaw the magistrates’ Koori Courts across Victoria, Koori Family Violence matters, Koori Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal (VOCAT) processes, implementation of inquest findings and the Magistrates’ Court self-determination plan.
The Wotjobaluk/Wemba Wemba/Mutti Mutti woman is the daughter of the late Aboriginal Elder Uncle Kevin Coombes.
Falla is joined by three other new appointees to the County Court bench: judges Tara Hartnett, Peter Matthews and Rebecca Wilson.
Hartnett was appointed a magistrate in 2018 and has served since 2022 as regional coordinating magistrate at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. She sat exclusively in the criminal division and managed both the major trial list and intensive case management list.
Before joining the court, Hartnett practised extensively in criminal law at the Victorian Bar. Her practice included conducting complex criminal trials in the County Court.
Matthews joins the court from the Victorian Bar, where he practised in both criminal and civil matters. He took silk in August 2024 and has appeared in the County Court, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court.
He has been involved in judicial review proceedings in the Supreme Court and matters before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) and other tribunals involving licensing and disciplinary issues. Earlier in his career, Matthews worked as a legal researcher at the County Court between 1995 and 1998.
Wilson joins the court following her appointment as a senior member of VCAT in 2024. She had previously served as a sessional member since 2021 across several lists, including civil claims, building and property, human rights, review and regulation, and owners corporations.
Wilson’s prior roles included serving as special counsel in government law at Mallesons Stephen Jaques and as general counsel at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office. Wilson is also an accredited mediator coach and specialist accredited mediator.
The County Court warmly welcomed the new members of the bench. The Judicial College of Victoria likewise said that it looks forward to supporting each judicial officer in the next phase of their judicial careers.
