She is WA District Court's first judge appointed directly as judge of appeal
The Supreme Court of Western Australia has announced the appointment of Troy Denise Sweeney – most recently senior judge of the District Court of Western Australia – as a judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, effective 15 September 2025.
Peter Quinlan, the Supreme Court’s chief justice, and Tony Buti, Western Australia’s attorney general, congratulated Justice Sweeney on her appointment.
“That her Honour is the first judge of the District Court to be appointed directly to the Court of Appeal is a testament to [her] expertise and experience,” Quinlan said. “It is also a testament to the collegiate bond between all members of the judiciary in this State, who are united in their commitment to the administration of justice.”
In its media statement, the state government shared that Sweeney would depart from the WA District Court as the second-longest serving judge on its current panel of judges, following only Chief Judge Julie Wager.
“We look forward to working with her Honour as she continues to serve the Western Australian community,” Quinlan said in the Supreme Court’s media statement.
The Supreme Court noted that Sweeney would fill the vacancy arising from Justice Paul Tottle’s retirement.
“I also take this opportunity to thank Justice Paul Tottle for his distinguished service as a Supreme Court Judge over the past 10 years,” said Tony Buti, Western Australia’s attorney general, in the state government’s media statement.
The WA government’s and the Supreme Court’s media statements provided more information on Sweeney’s professional background.
Sweeney received admission to practice in 1987 and served as counsel at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the former Crown Solicitor’s Office for 17 years.
“She began her counsel days at the Crown Solicitor's Office and was fast-tracked to criminal jury trials, before joining the ODPP at its inception in 1992 under the Hon. John McKechnie AO KC,” Buti said. “Judge Sweeney's career at the ODPP saw her rise in the ranks to the positions of Senior State Prosecutor and Consultant State Prosecutor.”
Sweeney’s practice, spanning nearly two decades, includes more than 15 years focusing on criminal trials and appeals.
Before WA’s District and Supreme Courts, she prosecuted criminal trials, including long and complex murder trials as well as sexual assault, child abuse, fraud, and drug trials. She appealed convictions and sentences before the Court of Appeal and argued special leave applications before the High Court.
“Her Honour's experience in criminal law spans more than 35 years, during which she has served with distinction across a multitude of complex matters both as a counsel and a Judge,” Buti said in the state government’s media statement.
“Justice Sweeney is a leader in the criminal law in Western Australia,” Quinlan added in the court’s media statement. “Very few judges in Western Australia have attained her Honour's level of expertise and experience in criminal trials.”
In 2005, Sweeney became senior counsel while working as a senior state prosecutor.
On 3 July 2006, she joined as a judge of the District Court, where she worked primarily on criminal trials. As senior judge, she supported and stood in for the District Court chief judge, starting in April 2024.
“As a District Court Judge for the past 19 years, her Honour mainly presided over criminal jury trials, and sentencing, making her eminently suitable to manage cases in the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal,” Buti said.
The Supreme Court noted that it planned to welcome Sweeney formally at a ceremonial sitting.
