Cavaliere Joseph Marcus Baldino LLB JP
I was born in May 1947 in Molinara, a small town (population Circa 2000 ) east of Naples in the Campania region of Italy.
I am the third of 6 siblings. In 1954 my mother and 5 children journeyed to Australia and joined my father in Australia who had migrated 2 years earlier.
We settled in Adelaide where I have lived ever since.
I attended Magill and Hectorville Primary Schools and then Campbelltown High. In 1966 I commenced a Law Degree at The University of Adelaide.
After completing the Batchelor of Law Degree in 1970, I worked as an Articled Clerk. My principal was Robert Floriani of Floriani & Fuller.
I was admitted as a Practitioner of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 1971 and worked in private practice at Scammel Skipper and Hollidge until 1985 when I was appointed to the bench as a Magistrate. I was the first Italian born Magistrate in South Australia.
As a magistrate, I sat in both the Civil and Criminal jurisdictions and in all regional and country courts in the State. I also presided as a Warden.
In June 2008 I was honoured by the President of Italy with an Italian Knighthood (Cavaliere) in recognition of my many years of service to the Italo-Australian community.
In May 2012 I retired from the magistracy on my 65th birthday (then the compulsory retirement age)
I now volunteer as a Justice of the Peace in several Council areas.
I have been married to Maria – who is also a law graduate from Adelaide University – for over 50 years. We have two children.