Northern Territory Attorney General, Chansey Paech, has announced the appointment of three judges to the Northern Territory Local Court, as part of a raft of measures aimed at improving service delivery, alleviating pressures on the justice system, and providing better justice outcomes through community courts.
John McBride, Carly Ingles, and Ben O’Loughlin have been Acting Local Court Judges in Alice Springs and Darwin.
“These new appointments will be invaluable in the delivery of better justice outcomes through community courts, which begin early next year,” the Attorney-General said.
“Judges McBride, O’Loughlin, and Ingles have served Territorians for many years and each has a considerable wealth of legal experience.
“Our newest judges are well-acquainted with the Northern Territory and I welcome them with full confidence in their ability to serve Territorians with distinction.”
Judge McBride has been practicing law in the NT for over four decades, having been first admitted to the bar in Victoria, and in the Northern Territory in 1980. He has been an Acting Local Court Judge since December 2021.
Judge O’Loughlin has 23 years of experience as a barrister, specialising in civil litigation, crime, and worker’s compensation matters. He has worked at the NT Director of Public Prosecutions from 1993-95, and in private practice at Cridlands.
Judge Ingles was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Victoria in 2002, and in the Northern Territory in 2005. She has worked as Crown Prosecutor at the NT Director of Public Prosecutions in Alice Springs; Managing Solicitor at the NT Legal Aid Commission; and as a criminal defence lawyer with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service.Â
Funding for additional Judges for the Northern Territory Local Court was announced as part of Budget 2023.
