Carter’s Domestic and Family Violence Law of Queensland

John J Costanzo was appointed Magistrate in the Magistrates Court of Queensland in 2000, was an Acting Magistrate from 2020 to 2026. After admission as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland and of the High Court of Australia he was a Crown Prosecutor and Senior Crown Prosecutor 1984 to 1996 in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Tutored in the law of Evidence QUT 1990 to 1994 and was Director of Criminal Law, Policy and Legislation Division of the Department of Justice and Attorney General 1996 to 2000, which included rewriting 1/3 of the Criminal Code, and being one of Australia’s delegates at the United Nations conference in 1998 to negotiate the treaty which established the permanent International Criminal Court. He has been an author of Carter’s Criminal Law since 1998.

Soraya Ryan graduated with first class honours and began her legal career at a commercial law firm before serving as a Crown Prosecutor, a university lecturer in Evidence, and counsel at Legal Aid Queensland. In 2010, she joined the private bar, specialising in criminal law. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013. She served as an executive consultant to and, later, a member of, the Queensland Law Reform Commission and as a part-time Commissioner of the Crime and Misconduct Commission. She was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018 and is currently the President of the Mental Health Court.

Peter Callaghan was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2020. Prior to his appointment he practised as a silk at the Queensland Bar between 2004 and 2020. Between 2008 and 2011, his Honour served on the Board of Legal Aid Queensland. At the time of his appointment to the Court, he was Chair of the Australian Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee.

Anthony Rafter SC was appointed a Judge of the District Court of Queensland in 2006 and Acting President of the Childrens Court of Queensland in 2022. Prior to his appointment he was in private practice at the Bar and specialised in criminal appeal work. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2003.

Brian Devereaux SC was appointed a Judge of the District Court of Queensland in 2009, Chief Judge of the District Court in 2020 and Judge of the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland in 2022. Prior to his appointment he was the Public Defender at Legal Aid Queensland. During that period, in 2005, he was appointed Senior Counsel.

Danae Younger is currently appointed as a General Member at the Administrative Review Tribunal and a Sessional Member at the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal. She has over 20 years’ experience practising as a solicitor and barrister specialising in criminal and administrative law in both private practice and government.