Four new magistrates will bring a diversity of experience to the Local Court of NSW.
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley welcomed the expertise of the new appointees, Danielle Mansour, Jennifer Wong, Maryanne Higginson and Rachael Wong.
They bring more than eight decades of legal experience between them, with professional backgrounds spanning the Crown Solicitor’s Office, the NSW Police, the court registry, advocacy for victims and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Following the swearing in of the new magistrates, there are now 79 female and 75 male magistrates in the NSW Local Court.
NSW Attorney General Michael Daley said:
“These four remarkable women are excellent appointments for the NSW Local Court.
“We live in a diverse society in NSW and judicial officers need to reflect the community in which they serve.
“The new magistrates have an impressive range of experience across the justice system and will be a tremendous asset to the Local Court.”
Magistrates’ biographies:
Danielle Mansour
Ms Mansour has two decades’ experience in criminal law, most recently as solicitor advocate with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. She commenced her career with the NSW Police, where her roles included work as a liaison officer with diverse communities and as a Police Prosecutor.
Jennifer Wong
Ms Wong has spent more than a decade at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, primarily with the Child Protection Practice Group. Admitted as a solicitor in 1999, her career spans Victims Services, Women’s Legal Services NSW and the Community Legal Service for Western NSW.
Maryanne Higginson
Ms Higginson has 35 years’ experience in NSW Local Courts and the administration of justice. She has held the position of Senior Manager and Hub Registrar, Illawarra South Region Hub, since 2021. Admitted as a solicitor in 1996, Ms Higginson’s career has covered senior management roles in the Children’s Court, the Sydney Civil Registry, the Downing Centre Local Court and policy officer roles.
Rachael Wong
Ms Wong has most recently been a solicitor at the Kingsford Legal Centre. Prior to this Ms Wong spent almost a decade with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, worked at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) in Dubbo and with the NSW Crime Commission.