The ACT Supreme Court has gained a fifth resident judge in an effort to ease the case backlog.
A NSW District Court judge will join the ACT Supreme Court as a resident judge to ease the case backlog.
Justice Michael Elkaim will be the fifth resident judge in the ACT Supreme Court, as construction of an improved court precinct ramps up ACT court facilities.
“A fifth judge will allow our courts to build on the excellent work done in recent years to increase access to justice and improve timeliness,” said ACT attorney-general Simon Corbell.
The ACT Supreme Court has been battling substantial backlogs in recent years, and has taken on visiting judges to keep up with demand.
“Obviously there are limitations with the Supreme Court right now in terms of the number of court rooms that are available ... but that will be an issue regardless of whether or not we have a fifth resident judge,” Corbell said.
The appointment follows an increase in funds allocated to deal with the backlog issue in the 2015-16 ACT budget.
Corbell said Justice Elkaim was selected after a long process which included public nominations. Elkaim has been a judge on the NSW District Court since 2008 and has worked in the legal profession for almost 40 years, an ABC report said.
“Judge Elkaim is highly regarded and has a reputation as an effective and diligent district court judge,” said Corbell.
“I am confident he will make a valuable contribution to the court.”
Elkaim will begin his term in the ACT Supreme Court on July 4.
Justice Michael Elkaim will be the fifth resident judge in the ACT Supreme Court, as construction of an improved court precinct ramps up ACT court facilities.
“A fifth judge will allow our courts to build on the excellent work done in recent years to increase access to justice and improve timeliness,” said ACT attorney-general Simon Corbell.
The ACT Supreme Court has been battling substantial backlogs in recent years, and has taken on visiting judges to keep up with demand.
“Obviously there are limitations with the Supreme Court right now in terms of the number of court rooms that are available ... but that will be an issue regardless of whether or not we have a fifth resident judge,” Corbell said.
The appointment follows an increase in funds allocated to deal with the backlog issue in the 2015-16 ACT budget.
Corbell said Justice Elkaim was selected after a long process which included public nominations. Elkaim has been a judge on the NSW District Court since 2008 and has worked in the legal profession for almost 40 years, an ABC report said.
“Judge Elkaim is highly regarded and has a reputation as an effective and diligent district court judge,” said Corbell.
“I am confident he will make a valuable contribution to the court.”
Elkaim will begin his term in the ACT Supreme Court on July 4.
