Lawyer Nicole Stoneham has been appointed as Bermuda’s fifth Magistrate, it was announced yesterday.Ms Stoneham, who is Bermuda’s only female magistrate took up the position on a permanent basis on Monday after a two-year stint as a temporary Magistrate sitting in the Family Court.Ms Stoneham obtained her LLB from England’s Buckingham University in 1991 and was called to the Bermuda Bar in 1993.Before being appointed a Magistrate, Ms Stoneham’s legal experience included a stint as Crown Counsel in the Attorney General’s Chambers and some private practice litigation with law firms Trott and Duncan and Milligan-Whyte and Smith.Government added a fifth Magistrate to help deal with a “significantly” increased workload in Family Court, according to a press release issued yesterday.The development has been warmly received by the two opposition parties.“We in the One Bermuda Alliance applaud this appointment, as a response to the substantially-increased demands on the Family Court,” said Shadow Families Minister Toni Daniels.“But we would also take this opportunity to advocate for the provision of mediation before court proceedings, as a highly-encouraged first step.”Senator Daniels said that mediation is “an empowering, proactive opportunity, which improves dialogue among the parties to the disagreement, especially with parents who are in dispute.“These services are provided for families at no cost to them or by extension — the taxpayer. Going forward, we hope that mediation will become the norm as we search for healthy solutions for our families.“And on a personal note, I am pleased that we can welcome another female to the Judiciary.”Mediation was one of the programmes recommended by a 2009 review of Bermuda’s family law system.The United Bermuda Party’s Charlie Swan said the news had been received with “pride and warmth”“Nichole has striven long in her legal career, while also raising a family,” he said.“She is a credit to the legal profession, and has done herself, her family and community, and Bermuda very proud. As the MP for Southampton West Central I and my colleagues wish her continued success.”