Judges

The Governor of New South Wales formally appoints the Judges of the Court following a decision by Cabinet. Judicial appointments are made on the basis of a legal practitioner’s integrity, high level of legal skills and the depth of his or her practical experience. Section 25 of the Supreme Court Act 1970 provides that the Court is to be composed of the Chief Justice, the President of the Court of Appeal, Judges of Appeal, Judges, and Associate Judges.

Chief Justice of New South Wales

Appointed Chief Justice in 2022

Biography Speeches

Chief Justices of NSW, from Francis Forbes to the Hon. Tom Bathurst AC

Biographies Supreme Court history

The Chief Justice, the President and the nine judges of appeal sit in the Court of Appeal.

Biographies About the Court of Appeal

Section 27 of the Act also provides for the appointment a Chief Judge to each of the Court's Common Law and Equity Divisions, whose respective titles are the Chief Judge at Common Law and the Chief Judge in Equity. The Chief Judges administer the work in their Division.

Chief Judge in Equity

The Hon. Justice David Hammerschlag

Chief Judge at Common Law

The Hon. Justice Ian Harrison

There are 39 permanent judges in the Supreme Court's trial divisions, including the Chief Judges of Equity and Common Law, and six acting judges

Biographies

Judges

Chief Justice of New South Wales

The Honourable Andrew Bell

Past Chief Justices

Judges of Appeal

Judges of the trial divisions