Attorney General Gabrielle Upton announced Crown prosecutor Tanya Bright had been appointed to the bench of the District Court of NSW.

“Ms Bright has a quarter of a century of experience in the law, including 23 years with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP),” Ms Upton said.

“She has appeared in more than 140 trials, including cases involving manslaughter and sexual assault.”

Ms Upton said Ms Bright’s significant cases included the prosecutions of Simon John Hunter, who was jailed for deliberately driving a car into a group of people at Terrigal Bakery; and physiotherapist Youngjin Jung, who was jailed for indecently assaulting six patients.

Earlier in her career, Ms Bright served in the ODPP’s special crime group and has also worked on secondment as a senior legal officer in the NSW Police Commissioner’s Office.

Prior to joining the ODPP in 1993, Ms Bright spent two years as a solicitor at Freehill, Hollingdale & Page, working on matters involving banking, finance and litigation.

Ms Bright grew up in Dubbo and completed her secondary education at Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Armidale.

She holds a Masters of Law and a Bachelor of Economics/Laws (Honours) from the University of Sydney.

Ms Bright will replace Judge Gregory Farmer who passed away in August this year.

Ms Bright will be sworn in as a district court judge in January.