Former DPP Adam Kimber SC appointed to SA District Court

In a move that will surprise many, former DPP Adam Kimber SC has been appointed to the District Court bench.

Adam Kimber outside court in 2017

• Get more out of your Advertiser subscription

In a surprise move, former Director of Public Prosecutions Adam Kimber SC has been appointed to the District Court bench.

It comes just 15 months after he opted not to reapply for his job as the state’s top prosecutor when the government spilled the position, rather than automatically reappoint him.

Mr Kimber, 50, has been practising at the independent bar as a defence barrister since last April, representing clients ranging from a notorious bikie in bail application to police officers in a stoush with the state coroner.

While his appointment will surprise many in the legal profession, it will at the same time be welcomed with a senior barrister predicting this appointment is a prelude to Mr Kimber “finding his way onto the Supreme Court bench’’ in future years.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman congratulated Mr Kimber on his appointment, stating she “looked forward to seeing him serve on the bench with distinction.”

“With more than two decades as a prosecutor in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Kimber is an experienced criminal lawyer and advocate,” she said.

“In his time at the ODPP, as prosecutor, then Deputy Director and Director, he prosecuted a number of high profile and complex matters.

“He has extensive trial and appellate experience, and has regularly appeared before the South

Australian Court of Criminal Appeal and the High Court of Australia.’’

Mr Kimber, who has been at Edmund Barton Chambers since last April, said he was “humbled and honoured’’ to have been approached by Ms Chapman and had immediately accepted the offer.

“I am nervous about doing something different and something that is such a big responsibility. I feel all of those emotions,’’ he said.

Mr Kimber’s appointment to the District Court fills the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Barry Beazley in April.

Over the past 15 months Mr Kimber has appeared in the District and Supreme Courts, the South Australian Employment Tribunal, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Coroner’s Court.

Mr Kimber said his stint in private practice after his seven-year term as DPP ended had been both a challenge and a valuable learning experience for him.

“There was no doubt having been in government for a long period of time, a new way of working, a new environment and on occasions being on the other side of the bar table was challenging, there is no doubt about that,’’ he said.

“But it has been hugely enjoyable. I have had fantastic work, fantastic support from solicitors and the profession in terms of giving me the work.

“To be honest, I think it has been good for me. It has exposed me to other areas of work, not just in crime on the other side of the bar table, but in commonwealth prosecution work and work outside of crime that has been hugely interesting, hugely challenging at times, but hugely interesting.

“It has had a lot of positive benefits…..and has given me a broader perspective.

“I would have been very happy to continue had I not received the phone call.’’

Just as Mr Kimber has had to excuse himself over the past 15 months from any involvement in any matters he may have been involved with as DPP, the same protocol will apply once he joins the District Court.

“…. obviously if I have had any involvement, even passing involvement, in a matter then there is no way I could be involved in that just as I have not been able to be since I have been at the bar,’’ he said.

“There will be some matters and it will be important to do those checks, but I don’t think that is going to arise very often.’’

Mr Kimber said he was approaching his appointment as “the last substantial thing you do in your career.’’

“Who knows what the future holds, but that is certainly my approach.’’

Mr Kimber will commence his new role on Monday.