BENDIGO lawyer Stella Stuthridge has been appointed as an acting magistrate in the state’s justice system.The five-year appointment will start after she is sworn in on March 16.Ms Stuthridge, who is overseas, is said to be ecstatic about the role and the new challenges it presents.Megan Aumair, the new principal of Stella Stuthridge and Associates and president of the Bendigo Law Association, said she was delighted that someone from the local ranks had been selected.“Particularly someone of the calibre of Stella - we are very, very proud of her,” Ms Aumair said.“She has worked extremely hard raising the profile of regional lawyers with the law institute.“The Attorney-General obviously holds in high regard lawyers from regional areas.”Ms Stuthridge’s appointment comes after the State Government assigned extra resources to the State Coroner’s Office to help with the increase in coronial investigations following the bushfires on February 7.Two magistrates have been reassigned from the Magistrate’s Court of Victoria to serve as coroners.Ms Stuthridge was appointed to fill one of the reassigned magistrate’s positions.She was the third lawyer to be appointed acting magistrate and the first not solely assigned to the Children’s Court.Ms Stuthridge was the principal solicitor of Stella Stuthridge and Associates and has practised in the areas of personal injury, general litigation, family law and criminal matters.She was for many years the only criminal law specialist in the city.Deputy Premier and Attorney-General Rob Hulls said Ms Stuthridge offered broad legal experience and expertise to the Magistrates Court.“She is a member of the Law Institute professional development committee for criminal lawyers and chairperson of the Law Institute of Victoria criminal law section,” he said.“Ms Stuthridge is an active participant in policy development and the continuing education of criminal lawyers, particularly in the area of sexual assault.“I congratulate Ms Stuthridge on her appointment and I look forward to the significant contribution she will make to Victoria’s justice system.”Mr Hulls said another acting magistrate and a third coroner’s position would be announced. “The coroner’s office has been working around the clock in difficult circumstances to formally identify those who died during the recent bushfires,” he said.“These extra appointments will undertake other coronial investigations, helping the Coroner to focus on the bushfire investigations.”