Renton is a criminal law expert, while Cormann concentrates on commercial litigation
Barristers Darren Renton and Hayley Cormann have been appointed as WA District Court judges, announced WA attorney general John Quigley.
“Both are highly respected in the legal profession and have worked on complex matters across multiple jurisdictions with distinction over their careers,” Quigley said in a WA government news release .
These two new judges of the WA District Court will begin serving in their new roles on 20 January 2025. They will be filling the vacant positions created by a resignation and by the appointment of a judge of the District Court to the Supreme Court.
Renton has over 25 years of trial and appellate experience focusing on criminal law. On the other hand, Cormann’s practice has covered general commercial litigation, insurance disputes, personal injury matters, and the defence of professional negligence claims against medical practitioners.
“Their intimate knowledge of the court system will help enhance the District Court's capacity to manage a substantial caseload in a timely fashion.” Quigley said in the WA government’s news release.
For around a decade, Renton worked as in-house counsel and principal legal officer for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). At the CDPP, he handled complex trials and appeals relating to drug importation, drug trafficking, fraud, terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious federal offences.
As a barrister, he conducted trials and appeals in Commonwealth and state cases for defence and prosecution briefs. He has appeared before the Corruption and Crime Commission to assist clients or to appear on their behalf.
Renton was admitted to practice in 1994, joined the bar in 2010, and was appointed as senior counsel in October 2021. He has served on numerous boards and committees, including with the Australian Bar Association and the Law Society of Western Australia.
Cormann worked at one of the largest law firms in Australia for 13 years. She primarily dealt with commercial, professional negligence, and healthcare law litigation, as well as disciplinary proceedings commenced by regulatory bodies.
She received admission to practice in 2007 and joined the bar in 2019. Her practice has focused on common law claims of negligence in the health and medico-legal sectors. She has also been involved in the conduct of large-scale commercial litigation disputes.
Cormann served as a council member of the Law Society of WA between 2012–2015, as treasurer in 2015, as senior vice president in 2017, and as president in 2018. Her activities have also included delivering legal education to solicitors and barristers and serving as a member of the Western Australian Bar Association’s Bar Council since 2023.
