Ian Gray (Australian magistrate)
Ian Gray (born c.1952) is the current Victorian State Coroner at the Coroners Court of Victoria. He completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at Monash University, graduating in 1973. He initially practised as a private solicitor, before beginning work as a community lawyer in a Community Legal Service and at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. Following this, he began practice as a barrister, specialising in criminal law.[1]
In 1990, Gray was appointed a magistrate in the Northern Territory. By 1992, he was Chief Magistrate of the Northern Territory. In 1998, he returned to the Victorian bar, specialising in criminal, administrative and employment law. In March 2001, he was appointed Chief Magistrate of the Magistrates' Court of Victoria, where he led over 100 magistrates, covering 52 locations across the State of Victoria. On 29 November 2012, he was appointed a Judge of the County Court of Victoria and commenced his appointment as State Coroner of Victoria the same day.[1] He is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University.
Chief Magistrate
Since Gray's appointment, a number of major reforms have been made at the Magistrates' Court. The establishment of innovative new specialist courts, such as the Drug Court, the Family Violence Court and the Koori Court, are a few examples of the type of change which Gray has overseen.[1]
County Court and State Coroner
In 2012, Gray was appointed to the County Court and made State Coroner of Victoria, replacing Jennifer Coate.[2]