Her Excellency the Governor, Ms Rena Lalgie, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Aura Cassidy as Magistrate with effect from 1 February 2024.

This appointment follows an open and competitive recruitment process and a recommendation received from the Judicial and Legal Services Committee. 

The Governor said, “I am very pleased to announce Ms Cassidy’s appointment as Magistrate following consultation with the Acting Chief Justice and a recommendation of the Judicial & Legal Services Committee. Ms Cassidy is highly qualified to take on the challenges of this role, not only from her experience as an Acting Magistrate but also from her wider legal experience in private practice.  I wish Ms Cassidy well in her new position.”   

Ms Cassidy was called to the Bar of New Zealand (Waikato and Bay of Plenty) Barrister Roll of the High Court and the Bermuda Bar in 2008.  

Ms Cassidy served as Crown Counsel in the Department of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2012 after which she was in private practice until her recent appointment as Magistrate.   Ms Cassidy has served as an Acting Magistrate since 2019 on an ad hoc basis.  

The appointment of Magistrate is made by the Governor after consultation with the Chief Justice and recommendation from the Judicial and Legal Services Committee (JLSC).  The post of Magistrate was advertised and candidates were interviewed by the JLSC, who then made a recommendation to the Governor which she accepted.