SA’s first female director of Public Prosecutions named
A barrister is making history as “legal nous” and “compassion” propel her into the state’s top legal job.
Mary Chalmers SC has been appointed South Australia’s new director of public prosecutions, after acting in the role since July.
She took on the role after her predecessor Martin Hinton SC resigned, and today was officially announced as taking the top job for its seven-year term.
Chalmers is the third woman to act in the role, Wendy Abraham KC and Sandi McDonald SC also held temporary positions, but she is the first woman to hold the role permanently.
Chalmers had an extensive legal career in the Northern Territory, with two decades of experience. In 2018 she established Murray Chambers Northern Territory with three other women.
She earned her Senior Counsel title in 2021, and beforehand worked across a number of government agencies in the Northern Territory including more than a decade as a crown prosecutor and senior crown prosecutor.
Chalmers has worked on Royal Commissions into the abuse of people with disability and defence and veteran suicide. She has a background in criminal trials, was a long-serving military lawyer and an Australian Defence Force reservist.
Attorney-General Kyam Maher said today that in her short time in the role so far, she had “continued to demonstrate her leadership skills and legal nous that make her an outstanding candidate for the important role”.
“Ms Chalmers has the ability to navigate complex legal matters and she has the compassion to handle sensitive matters involving vulnerable witnesses,” Maher said.
“I have every confidence she will live up to the very high standards expected in this office.
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“I’d also like to thank Martin Hinton for his decades of service to the legal profession, as Solicitor-General, Director of Public Prosecutions and Supreme Court Judge.”
SA Law Society President David Colovic said Chalmers “credentials, experience and reputation should make her an excellent fit for the role”.
“The Director of Public Prosecutions is one of the most important roles in the justice system, and particularly challenging with South Australia’s criminal courts facing significant backlogs,” Colovic said.
“We wish Ms Chalmers success in the role.”
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