Dual Appointment to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Family Court of Western Australia

Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP

Attorney-General Western Australia
Minister for Electroral Affairs
The Hon John Quigley LLB JP MLA

Joint media release

On behalf of the Australian Government and the Western Australia Government, we are pleased to announce that Ms Robin Cohen SC has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Family Court of Western Australia (FCWA).

Ms Cohen was admitted as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of Western Australia (WA) in 2003.

During two stints between 2006 and 2022 she was a senior solicitor at Legal Aid WA in the Family Grants Division, managing a large and complex caseload.

Ms Cohen was appointed Senior Counsel in 2021.

She is currently presiding as an Acting Magistrate in the FCWA, having done so during two terms in the past five years.

Her new role will take effect from 17 October 2022.

Ms Cohen will replace the Honourable Justice Susan Duncanson, who resigns in December as a Judge of the FCWA and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) after 10 years of service.

Comments attributed to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus

“I congratulate Ms Cohen on her appointment and thank her for her willingness to serve the people of Australia as a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 1) and the Family Court WA.

“I also thank Justice Duncanson for her service to the Australian legal community.

“The Family Court of WA is unique in Australia as Western Australia is the only state with a Family Court created under the Commonwealth Family Law Act, though for families in the state it plays the same vital role as the Commonwealth court.”

Comments attributed to Attorney-General John Quigley

"I congratulate Robin Cohen on her appointment to the Family Court of WA. Highly respected in the legal profession, she has extensive experience across a range of family law matters.

“Ms Cohen has been a counsel in Children’s Court and Family Court trials, Violence Restraining Order proceedings and Family Court appeals.

"Her expertise will continue to enhance the Family Court of WA's adjudication of frequently complex issues.

"I also thank Susan Duncanson for her long, distinguished service as a Judge of the Family Court."