Patrick Allen, Natalie Burnett, Nick Goodenough, Adrian Kennedy, Clare Morris named magistrates
Patrick Over has been appointed as a judge of the County Court of Victoria, while the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria has added magistrates Patrick Allen, Natalie Burnett, Nick Goodenough, Adrian Kennedy, and Clare Morris.
All these appointments took effect on 15 July. In its news release, the Judicial College of Victoria congratulated the new judicial officers on their appointments and anticipated engaging with them as they entered their new roles.
“On behalf of the Victorian Bar, I wish His Honour every success in this next stage of his professional career,” said Justin Hannebery, the Victorian Bar Association’s president, in a news release.
In the association’s news release, Hannebery also congratulated Victorian bar members Burnett, Goodenough, and Kennedy on their appointments.
In Melbourne, there will be a welcome ceremony for Over in Court 3-3, County Court, 250 William Street, on Thursday, 31 July, at 9:15 am, as well as a welcome sitting for Burnett and Goodenough
in Courtroom 1, Magistrates’ Court, 233 William Street, on Wednesday, 30 July, at 9:00 am.
A member of the Victorian bar for 22 years, Over has appeared regularly in the Supreme Court, County Court, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) legal practice list, and the Coroner’s Court.
His experience has covered personal injury arising from medical negligence and public liability. His work has also spanned disciplinary proceedings, professional negligence claims, regulatory issues, fidelity fund claims, inquests, and appeals in common law damages claims and statutory claims.
Allen began his legal career as a solicitor advocate at Stary Norton Halphen and made regular appearances in the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court. He then launched his own practice, where he has appeared across jurisdictions.
Burnett worked with Victoria Legal Aid in Sunshine. At the Office of Public Prosecutions, she practised in general prosecutions, in the clinical training program, and as a senior solicitor and legal prosecution coordinator.
She signed the Victorian bar roll in May 2010. Her criminal law practice has covered indictable crime matters before the County Court.
Goodenough started as a solicitor in Adelaide. Upon moving to Melbourne, he became a duty lawyer for Victoria Legal Aid in 2000 and a managing solicitor in 2007.
He signed the Victorian bar roll in May 2011. He mostly prosecuted indictable matters in the County Court for the Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions. He has practised as a senior public defender at Victoria Legal Aid since 2022.
Kennedy was initially a duty lawyer with Victoria Legal Aid and a private practitioner. He became a principal solicitor for Fitzroy Legal Service in 2008.
He signed the Victorian bar roll in November 2010. He primarily appeared in crime and child protection matters before the Magistrates’ and Children’s Court.
Morris worked as an associate at the County Court for two years, then as a solicitor advocate for Stary Norton Halphen for seven years. In 2017, she joined Victoria Legal Aid as a senior lawyer and advocate in the Night Court team.
She became a partner at Stary Norton Halphen in 2022. She has appeared in complex trials at Victoria’s County and Supreme Courts and preparation matters at the Court of Appeal. She is an accredited criminal law specialist.
