NSW Local Court Magistrate Ross Hudson has been appointed a Judge of the District Court of NSW, Attorney General Michael Daley announced today.
Magistrate Hudson brings a wealth of judicial experience and skill to the District Court bench, having served as a Local Court Magistrate since 2015.
As well as determining a range of matters, including sentencing, applications and hearings as part of his core work, Magistrate Hudson has been a member of the Local Court Education Committee for the past six years.
In addition, he served as President of the NSW Magistrates’ Association, which represents more than 100 judicial officers of the NSW Local Court.
He will be formally sworn into the District Court of NSW on Tuesday 23 April 2024.
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“I warmly congratulate Magistrate Hudson on his elevation to the District Court of NSW.
“Magistrate Hudson has been a great asset to the Local Court of NSW for the past nine years where he is well regarded for his extensive knowledge of criminal law, court procedures and processes.
“His expertise will be a significant addition to the operation of the District Court of NSW.”
Ross Hudson – biography
Magistrate Hudson commenced his career 25 years ago, first working as a paralegal at Carl Shannon Chambers – The Public Defenders.
Admitted as a solicitor in 2002, he worked at the criminal law specialist firm, William O’Brien Solicitors, becoming an accredited specialist in Criminal Law in 2007 and a partner in 2009.
He appeared in a broad range of jurisdictions while in this role, including the High Court, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, Supreme Court, District Court, Local Court, and the Children’s Court, as well as working on coronial inquests in NSW and matters before the NSW and Australian Crime Commissions and ICAC.
He became a Magistrate of the NSW Local Court in 2015 where he has presided over a number of high-profile cases, building a reputation for providing clear and concise reasons for Judgments as well as his efficient management of court processes.