Steven Heath appointed Deputy Chief Magistrate and ElizabethWoods as magistrate

1/7/99
Attorney General Peter Foss today announced the appointments of Steven Heath as the new Deputy Chief Magistrate and Elizabeth Woods as the State's fifth woman magistrate.
They were selected by a panel consisting of the Solicitor General Robert Meadows QC, Her Honour Judge Valerie French, the Chief Stipendiary Magistrate Con Zempilas and the Executive Director, Courts Division, Ministry of Justice, Richard Foster.
"I am delighted by both appointments," Mr Foss said.
"Mr Heath has been a hard working Magistrate in our Central Law Courts over the last four years while Ms Woods has had a very active and varied legal career and will bring great experience to the bench."
Mr Heath received news of his appointment whilst on circuit in Carnarvon, the town of his first residency as a Magistrate over eight years ago. Aged 41, Mr Heath is believed to be one of the youngest Deputy Chief Magistrates appointed.
A solicitor and later partner of Bunbury Solicitors, Young & Young, Mr Heath was sworn in as a Magistrate in 1991. He has also been a member on the Ministerial Taskforce for the "Co-ordination of an effective Police and Judicial response to domestic violence", and the Judicial Support Steering Committee.
Ms Woods first took up articles in 1983 at the Crown Solicitor's Office and achieved the position of Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1993. Ms Woods has sat on many committees and been involved in a number of special projects including the introduction of video-conferencing and "fast-tracking" in courts.
She has also lectured on a wide range of subjects for organisations such as Curtin University and the Department of Conservation and Land Management.
Ms Woods and Mr Heath will take up their appointments on July 5.
Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222