Former Narrandera woman Her Honour Natalie Adams is one of nine new judicial appointments throughout the supreme, district and local courts.

She is the daughter of Jacqui Adams of Narrandera and the late Bill Adams, a former pharmacist in the town.

The appointments, confirmed by Attorney General Michael Daley last week, include two supreme court judges, four district court judges, and two local court magistrates, along with a major internal promotion in the supreme court.

Daley praised the appointments, noting their “intellect and integrity” and their contribution to the supreme court’s “proud traditions of independence and excellence.”

The Honourable Justice Natalie Adams will assume the roles of Judge of Appeal and Chief Judge of the Common Law Division in February 2026.

Justice Adams, who has served as a supreme court judge since 2016, previously worked for the ODPP, Legal Aid Commission and Crown Solicitor’s Office, and served as NSW Crown Advocate from 2011.

She succeeds the Honourable Justice Ian Harrison, who will become an acting justice and acting judge of appeal.

Born in Narrandera she attended St Joseph’s Convent Primary School, then St Francis de Sales Regional College at Leeton for Years 7 to 10, before completing Years 11 and 12 at Kincoppal Rose Bay.

She studied economics and law at the University of Sydney, before graduating with honours in Law and was admitted as a solicitor in June 1989 then practised commercial litigation with Freehill Hollingdale and Page.

While practising at Freehills, she completed a Master of Laws at the University of New South Wales, specialising in criminal law.

She then took up a role with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, where she initially conducted a district court trial practice. After six years with the DPP she was subsequently promoted to a solicitor in the Court of Criminal Appeal Unit. She also conducted a supreme court practice that involved instructing in high profile murder trials.

Her Honour was then invited to take up the position of professional assistant in the director’s chambers, writing legal advice for the DPP until mid-1996 before moving to work with the then Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales in the Hurstville office and then the indictable section at the Parramatta office.

She moved to the Crown Solicitor’s Office in 1997 where, as a senior solicitor in the criminal law team, she conducted extensive coronial work, including as a solicitor assisting the coroner in the inquest into the death of John Newman MP.

During her time with the Crown solicitor, Her Honour represented the attorney general in several guideline judgments, appeared in numerous prosecutions for a range of government departments and professional boards, and prosecuted a variety of contempt of court matters.

She was called to the New South Wales Bar in 2001 and in 2002 was appointed as a Crown prosecutor. She practised mainly in administrative law, conducting prosecutions for various government departments and receiving regular briefs from the Crown Solicitor’s Office.

Her Honour also did appellate work in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

She was appointed Crown advocate in 2011 and took silk in 2012.

Her Honour is known for giving generously her time and expertise for the benefit of the profession. Since 2010 she has been a guest lecturer at the University of Wollongong’s Master of Prosecution course and lectured in evidence at the University of Technology Sydney.

She has also been a valuable mentor, both within the legal profession and in the wider community, been involved in the Women’s Mentoring Programs at Sydney University, and for many years was a volunteer mentor with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Program, which helps young people who face serious adversity develop supportive relationships.