The capacity of the District Court of NSW has been bolstered with the appointment of two Deputy Chief Judges, including a former Narrabri student.
Judge Stephen Hanley SC, who completed his primary schooling at St Francis Xavier’s, joined Christopher O’Brien AM in commencing in their new roles from December last year.
Judge Hanley is the son of Colin and Vera Hanley. Colin served as the manager of Logan’s Furniture for many years and was also a leading force behind St Vincent de Paul.
After completing his primary school education, Judge Hanley then boarded at De La Salle Armidale.
The establishment of the Office of the Deputy Chief Judge will assist with the administration Australia’s largest trial court which hears serious criminal offences, appeals from lower courts and civil proceedings.
The two deputies will assist Chief Judge Sarah Huggett to manage sitting arrangements, monitor the jurisdiction’s performance and provide professional support to more than 80 judges.
Judge Hanley was appointed to the District Court in 2013. He was previously appointed Senior Counsel in 2010, to the Bar 1986 and admitted as a solicitor in 1977.
His professional memberships have included the NSW Bar Association, Board of the Legal Aid Commission and Criminal Defence Lawyers Association.
Judge Hanley’s term will conclude on his retirement in June 2027.
Attorney-General Michael Daley welcomed Judge Hanley’s appointment, along with Judge O’Brien.
“Both judges both have an extraordinary depth of legal knowledge, demonstrated ability to enhance the operational efficiency of the District Court and outstanding records of service to the profession,” Mr Daley said.
“The addition of two Deputy Chief Judges will strengthen the capacity of the District Court to manage its growing workload.”
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I attended secondary school with Stephen and once had the privilege of a short holiday with the family in Narrabri before I went and joined the DLS Brothers and Stephen eventually graduated and moved to Sydney to study Law. Stephen had a beautiful soprano singing voice as a 14yr old and I can still remember his rendition of Mario Lanza’s “I’ll walk with God”, a song from Student Prince, which he sang in Armidale Town Hall in 1965, or thereabouts. He was a very mature boy for his age and was a very sociable personality. I am thrilled that he has done so well in life in the Law. My younger brother bought him to my attention only recently so I checked him out and there he is. Good to see that fine men still get promoted to very important positions in the Law.