The State Government has appointed an additional District Court judge to help ease a backlog of civil and criminal cases.
Attorney General Joe Berinson said the appointment of Mr Lawrence Alton Jackson QC brings the number of district court judges to 17 - more than double the number just 10 years ago.
Mr Jackson has also been appointed as a judicial member of the Children's Court, thus adding to the pool of District Court judges able to sit in that jurisdiction.
Mr Berinson said there had been a continuing increase in the number of actions brought before the District Court in recent years.
In the 12 months to October 31 last year, the number of indictments in the District Court rose by 15 per cent, while the number of criminal cases dealt with was up 25 per cent on the previous year.
"The appointment of an additional judge will help ease that pressure, although the Government is keenly aware it is not the only answer," Mr Berinson said.
"It is also important that more efficient systems and procedures are introduced in all jurisdictions, and the Government has introduced legislation to make a number of key reforms."
Mr Berinson said these included changes to the jurisdiction of the District and Local Courts, introduction of new fast-track committal procedures, and provision for the use of videotaped police interviews in court.
A two-year police trial of video-tape technology showed its potential to significantly cut the duration of court trials, in some cases by as much as 50 per cent.
"As this technology becomes more widespread it is expected to have a quite dramatic impact on easing current delays in the court system," Mr Berinson said.
"It is important, nevertheless, that we act now to ease immediate problems in the District Court by appointing an additional judge."
Mr Berinson said Mr Jackson, 50, was admitted to legal practice in 1966, and was a partner with the firm Jackson McDonald from 1968-81, before joining the Independent Bar.
He was appointed a QC in 1989, and was a Commissioner of the Supreme Court in 1990.
Mr Jackson had been a member of the Law Society Council, various Law Society committees and the Bar Council, and was currently a committee member of the Law Council of Australia litigation section, the Supreme Court Library, and the WA Branch of the Australian Insurance Law Association.
