Margaret Hunter (jurist)

Last updated

Special Magistrate
Margaret Hunter
OAM
Special Magistrate of the Australian Capital Territory
Assumed office
21 May 2014 (2014-05-21)
Personal details
Alma mater Australian 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]

Contents

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]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Magistrates Court (Special Magistrates) Appointment 2014 (No 3)" (PDF). ACT Government Legislation. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 Corbell, Simon (25 July 2017). "Special magistrates appointed". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Distinguished Australians to be Invested at Government House". Governor-General of Australia. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  4. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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. 1 2 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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