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Supreme Court of New South Wales
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
Chief Justices of NSW, from Francis Forbes to the Hon. Tom Bathurst AC
Judges of Appeal
The Chief Justice, the President and the nine Judges of Appeal sit in the Court of Appeal
Judges of the trial divisions
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.
The Hon. Justice David Hammerschlag
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.
Chronological list of judges
1824 - 2025
We acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land on which we work and we pay respect to the Elders, past, present and future.