It is my pleasure to announce that Magistrate Catherine Rheinberger has been appointed by Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Kate Warner, AM, Governor of Tasmania as Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates Court of Tasmania in accordance with the Magistrates Court Act 1987.
In what is a historic appointment, Chief Magistrate Rheinberger will be Tasmania’s first female Chief Magistrate. Chief Magistrate Rheinberger is eminently qualified for the position, with 25 years of experience in Tasmania’s legal system and over six years in the Magistrates Court of Tasmania, including serving as a Youth Justice Court Magistrate, a Court Mandated Drug Diversion Magistrate, and serving as the President of the Tasmanian Bar Association from 2005-08.
Chief Magistrate Rheinberger has also worked in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions as Senior Crown Counsel and Crown Counsel.
I thank the Deputy Chief Magistrate Michael Daly who has been acting in the role since July after the former Chief Magistrate Michael Brett was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
Chief Magistrate Rheinberger will commence in the role from today. I congratulate her on this appointment and wish her all the best in the position.