
ACT’s New Dedicated Coroner, Mr. Ken Archer
To ensure a more humane and personal approach to families involved in corona proceedings, senior member of the ACT Bar Ken Archer has begun his role as the first dedicated coroner in the ACT.
As the ACT coroner, Mr. Archer investigating deaths in the Canberra community, bringing clarity to bereaved families and friends, and ensuring that the coronary system is a calming, reassuring and family oriented one in what is already an immensely difficult time.
In the past, eight different magistrates have taken corona measures as part of their regular heavy workload, so Mr Archer’s role will ensure timely access to justice, improve consistency in corona proceedings and reduce delays.
This will improve the experience for families going through trauma, as well as help the Coroners Court achieve its goals of finding ways to save lives in the future.
With a range of experience in coronal hearings and investigations, Mr. Archer is known for his professionalism, compassion and legal acumen. He has practiced law in the territory for over three decades as a senior prosecutor and criminal defense attorney.
Mr Archer outlined the importance of the appointment.
“As a representative of the ACT Bar Association, I had the opportunity to sit down with the Attorney General and other stakeholders in the Coronial Restorative Reform Forum to share experiences of the coronary process and discuss how to not only make it more efficient can be in dealing with cases, but also more restorative in his approach,” said Mr. Archer.
Mr Archer’s appointment strengthens the ACT Magistrates court and helps ensure that Canberra’s community is well served by its coronary system.