Margaret Hunter (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]

Special Magistrate

Margaret Hunter

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

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 an award-winning breeder of cattle.[13][14][15][16] She has won several awards, including at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.[13]

References
  1. "Magistrates Court (Special Magistrates) Appointment 2014 (No 3)" (PDF). ACT Government Legislation. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  2. Corbell, Simon (25 July 2017). "Special magistrates appointed". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  3. "Distinguished Australians to be Invested at Government House". Governor-General of Australia. 10 September 2013. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  4. 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. 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. 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. 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 2019.
  12. "Special Magistrates". Magistrates Court of the Australian Capital Territory. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  13. 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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