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Deputy Director of DPP appointed to the District Court

Aiza Mabayag Jan 14, 2021

2 min read

Attorney General John Quigley has announced the appointment of high profile Senior Counsel, Carmel Barbagallo, as a judge of the District Court.

Carmel Barbagallo has 25 years’ legal experience commencing in general practice in regional Queensland before taking on a variety of roles in the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia.

Highly regarded in legal circles, she has spent many years managing and conducting the most demanding, complex and important criminal prosecutions in the State.

In January 2008, Judge Carmel moved to Victoria to take up a position as Crown Prosecutor.

Returning to Western Australia in November 2010, Judge Carmel became the Consultant State Prosecutor at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) supervising a team of approximately 30 prosecutors.

From December 2016, Judge Carmel was responsible for the management and prosecution of Bradley Robert

Edwards for the Claremont murders, believed to be the longest running and one of the most expensive prosecutions ever conducted in WA.

Judge Carmel has been the Deputy Director of the ODPP since 2017. Her appointment fills a vacancy created by the recent retirement of Her Hon Gillian Braddock SC. Judge Carmel will take up her new position on 2 February 2021.

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Judge Carmel as a judge of the District Court. Judge Carmel has a diverse background in the law starting out as a general practitioner in rural Queensland before being drawn to State Prosecutor roles,” Attorney General John Quigley said.

“Experienced in criminal law, Ms Barbagallo has prosecuted some of the most serious and complex prosecutions in Western Australia. Many will know Ms Barbagallo as head of the team that conducted the successful prosecution of Bradley Robert Edwards, the now convicted Claremont killer,” Attorney General John Quigley said.

“Judge Carmel is a highly intelligent and determined advocate and lawyer with a genuine empathy for victims, many of whom experience the most horrendous circumstances imaginable. These qualities will be invaluable in her judicial career. I congratulate Judge Carmel on her appointment and thank her for her continued service to the people of Western Australia,” Attorney General John said.