Margaret Hunter (jurist)

Special Magistrate
Margaret Hunter
OAM
Special Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory
Incumbent
Assumed office
21 May 2014 (2014-05-21)
Personal details
Alma materAustralian National University
OccupationLawyer
Jurist

Margaret Anne Hunter OAM is a Special Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory. She was appointed as a special magistrate and coroner on 21 May 2014.[1][2]

She has been recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for her support of women in the legal profession.[3]

Her work as a coroner has led to notable reforms of the health system in the Australian Capital Territory.[4][5][6]

Early life

Hunter studied at the Australian National University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1991 and a Bachelor of Laws in 1992.[7]

Career

Hunter first worked as a nurse from 1978 to 1987.[8] Hunter then worked as a prosecutor at the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions from 1994 to 2000.[2][9]

She became a founding committee member of Australian Women's Lawyers in 1997.[10]

In 2000, Hunter became a barrister in the Australian Capital Territory.[11] She was appointed Principal Counsel Assisting the Coroner for the Australian Capital Territory in 2006.[8]

On 12 September 2013, she received a Medal of the Order of Australia 'for service to the community, particularly through support for women in the legal profession.'[3]

Hunter was appointed a special magistrate and coroner for the Australian Capital Territory on 21 May 2014 for a period of three years.[1][2] She has since been reappointed.[12]

In 2016, Hunter handed down findings in a coronial inquest which recommended changes to the medical prescription system in the Australian Capital Territory.[5] These findings have led to reform by the government.[4] Other recommendations have led to changes of policy at hospitals in the Australian Capital Territory.[6]

Personal life

Hunter is a breeder of cattle.[13][14][15][16] She has won several awards, including at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Magistrates Court (Special Magistrates) Appointment 2014 (No 3)" (PDF). ACT Government Legislation. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Corbell, Simon (25 July 2017). "Special magistrates appointed". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Distinguished Australians to be Invested at Government House". Governor-General of Australia. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  4. ^ a b Burdon, Daniel (17 August 2017). ""How many others have died since?": ACT government responds to Coroner on prescription monitoring". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  5. ^ a b Back, Alexandra (16 December 2016). "'The system failed him': Coroner hands down findings on death of Paul Fennessy". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b Knaus, Christopher (6 January 2016). "Calvary accepts coroner's findings, recommendations in childbirth fatality case". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 March 2019.
  7. ^ "Alumni appointments in the ACT Courts". Australian National University. 9 May 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b Hensler, Elspeth (12 June 2013). "Margaret Hunter appointed OAM". Women Lawyers of Western Australia. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  9. ^ Needham, Matthew (28 May 2014). "Newly appointed acting judges to the ACT Supreme Court announced - Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration - Australia". Mondaq. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  10. ^ "Our History". Australian Women Lawyers. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  11. ^ "Margaret Hunter". Burley Griffin Chambers. 10 August 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018.
  12. ^ "Special Magistrates". Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  13. ^ a b Vue, Toby (19 April 2017). "Duo blitz field". Yass Tribune. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  14. ^ Kinbacher, Lucy (23 February 2019). "Murray Grey's strong showing at Canberra". The Land. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Dr. Sandra Johnson and Margaret Hunter, OAM". Murray Grey International Association. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  16. ^ Vidler, Adam (24 April 2009). "Yass stud continues Murray Grey domination". The Australian Dairy Farmer. Retrieved 10 March 2019.


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