Name |
First permanent appointment commenced |
Permanent appointment concluded |
Select details of Australian judicial service |
RATH, Arthur Francis (1916–1984) |
18 February 1974 | 20 June 1984 | Equity Division |
MAXWELL, Alan Victor (1922–1997) |
8 April 1974 |
31 July 1990 |
Common Law Division |
WADDELL, Thomas William (1923–) |
25 July 1974 |
16 April 1993 |
Chief Judge in Equity (1986–1993) Probate Judge (1986) Subsequently acting judge of the Land and Environment Court (1994) |
JEFFERY, Phillip John (1930–1978) |
26 August 1974 |
24 December 1978 |
Common Law Division |
YELDHAM, David Albert (1929–1996) |
21 October 1974 |
28 January 1990 |
Common Law Division Commercial Division Judge in Admiralty (1980–1988) |
NEEDHAM, George Denys (1919–1997) |
4 November 1974 |
6 April 1989 |
Equity Division Probate Judge (1987–1989) Subsequently acting judge and acting Probate Judge (1989–1990 and 1991–1992) |
ASH, William Percy (1915–1983) |
20 February 1975 |
1 October 1982 |
Common Law Division Judge of the Land and Valuation Court (1978–1979) |
CANTOR, Henry Laurence (Bill) (1919–1986) |
6 June 1975 |
2 June 1986 |
Common Law Division Previously Master at Common Law and in the Court of Appeal (1972 until his appointment as a judge) |
DEANE, Sir William Patrick AC KBE (1931–) |
1 February 1977 |
31 March 1977 |
Equity Division Subsequently Federal Court and President of the Trade Practices Tribunal (1977–1982); Justice of the High Court (1982–1995) |
POWELL, Phillip Ernest AM (PDF, 36.8 KB) (1930–2016) |
27 April 1977 |
8 November 2002 |
Equity Division (1977–1993) Protective Judge (1983–1993) Probate Judge (1991–1993) Judge of Appeal (1993–2002) |
LUSHER, Edwin Augustus (1916–2000) |
29 September 1977 |
16 June 1986 |
Common Law Division |
KEARNEY, John Basil (1921–2009) |
1 May 1978 |
21 February 1992 |
Equity Division |
CROSS, Ronald Francis (1920–2005) |
11 September 1978 |
12 June 1984 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1957–1978) |
RODEN, Adrian Isaacs (1926–) |
4 December 1978 |
1 April 1989 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1977–1978) |
HUNT, David Anthony AO (1935–2019) |
5 March 1979 |
31 March 1998 |
Common Law Division Chief Judge at Common Law (1991–1998) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2006–2007) |
FISHER, William Kenneth (Bill) AO (1926–2010) |
30 July 1979 |
17 November 1981 |
Common Law Division Subsequently President of the Industrial Commission (1981–1992); Chief Judge of the Industrial Court (1992–1996); President of the Industrial Relations Commission (1992–1998) |
McLELLAND, Malcolm Herbert (1937–) |
30 July 1979 |
29 August 1997 |
Equity Division Chief Judge in Equity (1993–1997) |
(1933–) |
14 December 1979 |
3 May 1993 |
Chief Judge of the Commercial Division (1987–1993) |
STEWART, Donald Gerard (1928–2019) |
24 June 1981 |
31 December 1984 |
Common Law Division |
FOSTER, Michael Leader (1928–2016) |
13 July 1981 |
1 November 1987 |
Common Law Division Commercial Division Subsequently Federal Court (1987–1998); acting Judge of Appeal (1999–2003) |
REYNOLDS, Thomas O’Loghlen (1931–1988) |
13 July 1981 |
11 April 1988 |
Common Law Division |
ENDERBY, Keppel Earl (Kep) (1926–2015) |
22 February 1982 |
26 June 1992 |
Common Law Division |
MILES, Jeffrey Allan AO (1935–2019) |
8 March 1982 |
16 June 1985 |
Common Law Division Subsequently Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and judge of the Federal Court (1985–2002); acting Judge of Appeal (2003–2006) |
CLARKE, Matthew John Robert (1935–2017) |
1 February 1983 |
14 February 1997 |
Common Law Division (1983–1987) Judge of Appeal (1987–1997) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (1997–1998, 2000) |
PRIESTLEY, Lancelot John (Bill) (1931–2020) |
3 June 1983 |
31 December 2001 |
Judge of Appeal |
HODGSON, David Hargraves AO (PDF, 100.0 KB) (1939–2012) |
31 October 1983 |
9 August 2011 |
Equity Division (1983–2001) Probate Judge (1994–1997) Protective Judge (1994–1999) Chief Judge in Equity (1997–2001) Judge of Appeal (2001–2011) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2011) |
COHEN, Brian John Keith (1928–2021) |
21 November 1983 |
28 February 1999 |
Equity Division Probate Judge (1997–1999) Previously Master in Equity (1976 until his appointment as a judge) |
CARRUTHERS, Kenneth John (1932–2022) |
28 November 1983 |
17 February 1995 |
Common Law Division Judge in Admiralty (1988–1995) Previously acting judge (October 1983 until his permanent appointment) Subsequently acting judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory (1995); acting judge (1998 and 1999–2004) |
WOOD, James Roland Tomson AO (PDF, 1.0 MB) (1941–) |
1 February 1984 |
31 August 2005 |
Common Law Division Chief Judge at Common Law (1998–2005) |
FINLAY, Mervyn David (1925–2014) |
13 August 1984 |
8 September 1995 |
Common Law Division |
KIRBY, Michael Donald AC CMG (1939–) |
24 September 1984 |
2 February 1996 |
President of the Court of Appeal Previously Federal Court (1983–1984) Subsequently Justice of the High Court (1996–2009) |
SMART, Rex Foster (1937–2013) |
29 October 1984 |
13 November 1998 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (1999–2011) |
McHUGH, Michael Hudson AC (1935–) |
31 October 1984 |
13 February 1989 |
Judge of Appeal Subsequently Justice of the High Court (1989–2005) |
GROVE, Michael Brian RFD (1938–2021) |
11 February 1985 |
11 October 2010 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (2011–2013) |
YOUNG, Peter Wolstenholme AO (PDF, 504.3 KB) (1940–) |
4 March 1985 |
23 April 2012 |
Equity Division (1985–2009) Probate Judge (1999–2001) Protective Judge (1999–2001) Chief Judge in Equity (2001–2009) Judge of Appeal (2009–2012) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2012 and 2013–2016) |
McINERNEY, Peter Aloysius (1927–2014) |
8 July 1985 |
12 March 1999 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (1999–2001) |
CAMPBELL, Michael William (1930–) |
3 March 1986 |
6 February 1994 |
Common Law Division Previously Workers’ Compensation Commission (1975–1984); Compensation Court (1984–1986) Subsequently Chief Judge of the Compensation Court (1994–2003); acting Judge of Appeal (2002, 2004–2005) |
(1937–) |
12 May 1986 |
28 February 2007 |
Equity Division (1986–2004) Judge of Appeal (2004–2007) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2007–2010, 2011) |
BROWNIE, John Edward Horace (1936–) |
16 June 1986 |
25 October 1996 |
Commercial Division Equity Division Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (1997, 1999–2006) |
ALLEN, Colin Ramsey (1928–2022) |
1 August 1986 |
4 August 1996 |
Common Law Division Previously Master at Common Law (1976 until his appointment as a judge) |
MATHEWS, Jane Hamilton AO (1940–2019) |
7 July 1987 |
1 July 1994 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1980–1987) Subsequently Federal Court and President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (1994–2001); acting Judge of Appeal (2001–2011); acting judge (2012–2017) |
NEWMAN, Peter James RFD (1938–2020) |
2 November 1987 |
5 November 2000 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (2001–2006) |
LOVEDAY, Ray Francis AM (1921–2005) |
29 April 1988 |
9 June 1993 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1971–1988) Subsequently acting judge (1993–1994) |
COLE, Terence Rhoderic Hudson AO RFD (1937–) |
5 May 1988 |
18 May 1998 |
Commercial Division (1988–1994) Judge of Appeal (1994–1998) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (1999) |
GILES, Roger David (1942–) |
6 May 1988 |
23 December 2011 |
Commercial Division (1988–1998) Chief Judge of the Commercial Division (1994–1998) Judge of Appeal (1998–2011) |
STUDDERT, Timothy James (1935–) |
19 September 1988 |
15 July 2007 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (2007–2010) |
(1938–) |
2 November 1988 |
21 May 1998 |
Chief Justice Subsequently Chief Justice of the High Court (1998–2008) |
MEAGHER, Roderick (Roddy) Pitt AO (1932–2011) |
31 January 1989 |
16 March 2004 |
Judge of Appeal |
SULLY, Brian Thomas AM (PDF, 52.4 KB) (1936–2019) |
24 July 1989 |
24 March 2007 |
Common Law Division |
BADGERY-PARKER, Jeremy (1937–2002) |
25 July 1989 |
20 March 1998 |
Common Law Division Member of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal (1991–1996) Deputy President of the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal (1997–1999) Previously District Court (1984–1989) Subsequently acting judge (1999–2002) |
SHARPE, George Samuel (1926–2017) |
26 July 1989 |
9 August 1993 |
Common Law Division Previously Master at Common Law (1975 until his appointment as a judge) Subsequently acting judge (1994) |
HANDLEY, Kenneth Robert AO (PDF, 473.0 KB) (1935–) |
30 January 1990 |
11 January 2007 |
Judge of Appeal Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2007–2012) |
ABADEE, Alan Richard AM RFD (PDF, 539.9 KB) (1939–) |
27 August 1990 |
3 October 2000 |
Common Law Division Previously acting judge (April–June 1990) |
ROLFE, James Moreton Neville (1939–) |
24 September 1990 |
16 March 2001 |
Commercial Division Equity Division Judge in Admiralty (1995–1999) Previously acting judge (1989) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2001) |
JAMES, Bruce Meredith (1939–2016) |
8 May 1991 |
9 December 2011 |
Common Law Division |
SHELLER, Charles Simon Camac AO (PDF, 324.3 KB) (1933–2018) |
18 November 1991 |
2 May 2005 |
Judge of Appeal |
CRIPPS, Jerrold Sydney (1933–2015) |
2 April 1992 |
5 October 1993 |
Judge of Appeal Previously District Court (1977–1980); Land and Environment Court (1980–1985); Chief Judge of the Land and Environment Court (1985–1992) Subsequently acting judge (2002); acting Judge of Appeal (2003–2005) |
WINDEYER, William Victor (Bill) AM RFD ED (1936–) |
14 April 1992 |
28 November 2008 |
Equity Division Previously Master in Equity (1989 until his appointment as a judge) Subsequently acting judge (2009–2013) |
IRELAND, Morris David (Dusty) (1928–2018) |
18 May 1992 |
13 June 2000 |
Common Law Division Previously acting judge (1989) Subsequently acting judge (2000–2003) |
LEVINE, David Daniel AO RFD (PDF, 295.4 KB) (1944–2020) |
10 August 1992 |
31 March 2005 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1987–1992) |
DUNFORD, John Robert (1936–) |
2 February 1993 |
1 May 2005 |
Common Law Division Previously District Court (1986–1993) Subsequently acting judge (2006) |
HULME, Robert Shallcross (1941–2020) |
14 May 1993 |
6 June 2012 |
Common Law Division Equity Division Subsequently acting judge (2012–2016) |
O’KEEFE, Barry Stanley John AM GCSG (1933–2014) |
19 May 1993; 14 November 1999 |
13 November 1994; 22 March 2004 |
Chief Judge of the Commercial Division (1993–1994) Common Law Division (1999–2004) [See note at the end of the table] |
SANTOW, Geza Francis Kim AO OAM (PDF, 2.0 MB) (1941–2008) |
30 August 1993 |
31 December 2007 |
Equity Division (1993–2002) Judge of Appeal (2002–2007) |
(1946–) |
1 February 1994 |
29 March 2018 |
Common Law Division (1994–2015) Judge of Appeal (2015–2018) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2018–) |
BLANCH, Reginald Oliver AM (1942–) |
28 February 1994 |
7 August 2014 |
Common Law Division Chief Judge of the District Court (1994–2014) |
HUNTER, Robert Leslie (1930–2023) |
29 April 1994 |
21 July 2002 |
Equity Division |
BRUCE, Vince (1942–) |
4 July 1994 |
8 March 1999 |
Common Law Division Previously acting judge (1990, 1991) |
DOWD, John Robert Arthur AO (1940–) |
25 July 1994 |
23 August 2004 |
Common Law Division |
SIMOS, Theodore (1934–2009) |
31 January 1995 |
16 October 2001 |
Equity Division |
BAINTON, Russell John (1930–2001) |
20 February 1995 |
28 August 1998 |
Commercial Division |
SPERLING, Harold David (PDF, 328.8 KB) (1935–) |
27 February 1995 |
27 February 2005 |
Common Law Division |
HIDDEN, Peter John AM (PDF, 594.7 KB) (1944–) |
16 October 1995 |
17 March 2016 |
Common Law Division Subsequently acting judge (2016–2021) |
(1951–) |
29 April 1996 |
27 February 2019 |
Judge of Appeal President of the Court of Appeal (2013–2019) Previously Federal Court (1993–1996) |
BARR, Graham Russell (1937–) |
26 August 1996 |
21 March 2009 |
Common Law Division Previously acting judge (1994–1996) Subsequently acting judge (2009–2014) |
MASON, Keith AC (PDF, 2.3 MB) (1947–) |
4 February 1997 |
30 May 2008 |
President of the Court of Appeal |
HAMILTON, John Perry (PDF, 710.9 KB) (1940–) |
17 March 1997 |
31 March 2009 |
Equity Division Previously acting judge (1996) Subsequently acting judge (2009–2011) |
STEIN, Paul Leon AM (PDF, 737.6 KB) (1939–) |
8 April 1997 |
11 April 2003 |
Judge of Appeal Previously District Court (1983–1985); Land and Environment Court (1985–1997) Subsequently acting Judge of Appeal (2004–2006) |
EINSTEIN, Clifford Roy (1947–2020) |
1 September 1997 |
3 May 2012 |
Equity Division |
JAMES, Gregory Reginald AM (1944–) |
14 April 1998 |
1 May 2005 |
Common Law Division |
(1946–) |
25 May 1998 |
31 May 2011 |
Chief Justice |
ADAMS, Michael Frederick (PDF, 121.1 KB) (1946–) |
28 July 1998 |
10 February 2017 |
Common Law Division Previously acting judge (1996) |
KIRBY, David (1943–) |
12 August 1998 |
14 October 2011 |
Common Law Division |
AUSTIN, Robert Peter AM (1946–) |
31 August 1998 |
5 March 2010 |
Equity Division |
FITZGERALD, Gerald Edward (Tony) AC (1941–) |
18 February 1999 |
16 April 2001 |
Judge of Appeal Previously Federal Court (1981–1984); President of the Queensland Court of Appeal (1991–1998); acting Judge of Appeal (1998 until his permanent appointment) |
BERGIN, Patricia Anne (Paddy) AO (1949–) |
1 March 1999 |
29 January 2017 |
Equity Division Chief Judge in Equity (2009–2017) |
BELL, Virginia Margaret AC (PDF, 348.2 KB) (1951–) |
25 March 1999 |
19 December 2008 |
Common Law Division (1999–2008) Judge of Appeal (2008) Subsequently Justice of the High Court (2009–2021) |
Honorifics may have been conferred during or after judicial service.
Appointment as a Judge is a precondition to appointment as a Judge of Appeal. Appointment as a Judge of Appeal is a precondition to appointment as President of the Court of Appeal. Accordingly, dual or triple concurrent appointments are not recorded in the table.
References to service in a particular Division may not be exhaustive: see Supreme Court Act 1970 s 41.
‘Select details of Australian judicial service’ omits references to short-term periods of concurrent judicial office in another Australian jurisdiction, such as occurred with William Charles Windeyer J, Priestley JA and Sheller JA. Several judges have also served on the courts of the Pacific Islands, Dubai, Hong Kong or Singapore during their term of office on the Supreme Court and after retirement, see Ch 3: ‘The lives of the judges’.
The concurrent service of judges holding appointments in the colonial Vice Admiralty Court as personae designate (see The Yuri Maru [1927] AC 906 at 912) is recorded in the Law Almanacs. Between 1 July 1911 and 1 January 1989, when the Admiralty Act 1988 (Cth) commenced, the Supreme Court was a Colonial Court of Admiralty with civil jurisdiction in admiralty being exercisable by the Chief Justice or a judge nominated by him.
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