MARIA Doogan and Ken Cush have been appointed special magistrates for 12 months.

Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, said the appointments were needed to fill the gap between David Mossop taking up his appointment as master of the Supreme Court and the process for appointing a new permanent magistrate.

“Ms Doogan spent 14 years as an ACT Magistrate and is very familiar with the work of the Magistrates Court,” Mr Corbell said.

“Appointed in 1998 as a magistrate and coroner, Ms Doogan handled general criminal and civil cases, workers’ compensation, and children’s matters. As coroner, she presided over the 2003 Canberra bushfire inquiry.”

In his previous appointment as a special magistrate, Mr Cush handled matters such as coronial, sentencing, and civil and criminal hearings, Mr Corbell said.

“He is a long-serving member of the ACT legal community whose experience includes working in private practice as a solicitor, partner and managing partner, and establishing a local Canberra firm practising in the areas of insurance, commercial, criminal, and family law,” Mr Corbell said.

“He is currently a legal consultant to several companies providing advice on commercial, regulatory and industrial issues.”