This marks Attorney General Michel Daley's first judicial pick
Attorney General Michael Daley has made his first judicial appointment, selecting Kristina Stern as a judge of appeal of the NSW Supreme Court.
Stern, a highly respected lawyer with extensive public and commercial law experience, will be replacing Justice Paul Brereton, who will be heading Australia's new National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Daley said he is committed to ensuring that the justice system reflects the community's diversity, and it is noteworthy that his first judicial appointment is a woman.
Before moving to Australia, Stern spent ten years at the London bar, lectured in law at King's College London and earned a PhD from Cambridge University. She has since appeared in several complex commercial and administrative law disputes, including the Hobart International Airport case and the Mount Bruce Mining litigation in the High Court.
She has also appeared in the Julian Wright and the Hope Downs litigation and for Meta in ongoing proceedings by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission relating to allegedly false crypto-currency advertising. She also appeared in the Glencore transfer pricing dispute and taxation disputes arising from Project Wickenby. She is regularly briefed on planning and environmental matters, both civil and criminal.
Stern is currently serving as the chair of the NSW Bar Association Inquests and Inquiries Committee, and is regularly briefed in high profile inquests and fire inquiries. She has appeared in several high-profile cases, including the Quakers Hill Nursing Home fire, the Dungog floods, and the death of cricketer Phillip Hughes. Stern has likewise represented the Commonwealth in the defamation trial brought by war veteran and Victoria Cross holder Ben Roberts-Smith.
In making the announcement, Daley praised Stern's skills and experience, describing her as "one of the most highly regarded lawyers in her fields and is a fantastic addition to the Supreme Court."
