An associate judge responsible for the bulk of the ACT Supreme Court's civil cases is set to replace outgoing justice Richard Refshauge when he retires next year after more than eight years on the bench.
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ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay will on Wednesday announce Associate Justice David Mossop's appointment as the new resident judge of the Supreme Court.
His promotion creates an opening for a new judge in the ACT as the government continues to search for his replacement.
"Mr Mossop's experience in his current role as associate judge, along with his experience in his former roles as an ACT magistrate and as a barrister at the ACT Bar, means he is well equipped for this new role with expertise in both the civil and criminal jurisdictions," Mr Ramsay said.
"Mr Mossop has a proven track record as associate judge in discharging a significant proportion of the ACT Supreme Court's civil caseload."
Mr Mossop was appointed Master of the court in 2013 and brought vast experience as a civil barrister and magistrate to the role, which deals with a large volume of often complex civil litigation.
Mr Mossop previously worked extensively in private practice, mainly in civil areas of law, including constitutional, commercial, administrative, and human rights and discrimination law.
Early in his career, he was an associate to then High Court Justice Michael McHugh, managed a small community legal centre, and worked as a solicitor at the Environmental Defender's Office.
He will begin his new role on February 13.
Mr Refshauge, a former ACT Director of Public Prosecutions who joined the Supreme Court in 2008, will spend a few months finalising outstanding reserved judgments before his retirement in May.
Justice Michael Elkaim was sworn in as the ACT's long-awaited fifth resident judge in July to help meet rising workloads and following a lengthy campaign from Canberra's legal fraternity.
Former barrister and counter-terrorism prosecutor Glenn Theakston was appointed to the bench of the ACT Magistrates Court to replace Magistrate Peter Dingwall, who retired in August.
Changes to the benches of both courts have coincided with a $150 million revamp of the ACT's Knowles Place court precinct, as construction continues on a new building expected to meet the territory's needs for the next 50 years.
