District Court Judge Ross Hudson has been appointed by the New South Wales government to serve as president of the Children’s Court of NSW for a five-year term, commencing 22 November.

He succeeds Judge Ellen Skinner, who held the position for five years.

Judge Hudson has more than a decade of judicial service, joining the Local Court in 2015 and moving to the District Court in 2024.

His docket has included serious criminal trials, sentencing and bail hearings, and he has overseen the Taree circuit, handling children’s criminal matters and care-protection cases.

Before his bench appointment, Hudson spent 13 years as a criminal-law solicitor, appearing in the Supreme, District, Local, Coroner’s and Children’s courts.

Hoyles currently serves as executive director of Legal Aid’s criminal law division, supervising more than 350 criminal lawyers.

As president, he will manage court administration, contribute to judicial education, engage external stakeholders and preside over cases.

Attorney General Michael Daley said Hudson “has more than a decade of judicial experience across the Local and District courts and is deeply familiar with the legal and social issues affecting children and young people.” Shaw has worked as a Crown prosecutor for 20 years, appearing in more than 300 district court trials and 20 murder trials, and has international experience including prosecution work in Vanuatu and public defence work in East Timor.

The announcement also named four senior lawyers as new Local Court magistrates, adding more than seven decades of combined experience to Australia’s busiest court system. Nowland has 14 years’ experience across criminal and civil law, dispute resolution, equity, and probate, and previously managed a criminal law practice in Newcastle and the Hunter region.