The Honourable Justice Ian Harrison was formally farewelled at a public ceremony yesterday in the Banco Court. Judges, members of the legal profession, family and friends heard Chief Justice Andrew Bell, the President of the New South Wales Bar Association, Mr Dominic Toomey SC and the President of the The Law Society of NSW, Ms Jennifer Ball GAICD, pay tribute to Justice Harrison’s long and distinguished record of public service, both at the Bar and on the Bench.
Sir James Martin's is the only person to hold all three positions of Chief Justice, Premier and Attorney General.
Sir James Martin's is the only person to hold all three positions of Chief Justice, Premier and Attorney General.
Sir James Martin's is the only person to hold all three positions of Chief Justice, Premier and Attorney General.
Chief Justice Andrew Bell welcomes the appointment of Philip Boulten SC and Gregory Sirtes SC as Judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Mr Philip Boulten SC became a legal practitioner in 1979 and a barrister in 1988, before taking silk in 2003. He was president of the New South Wales Bar Association from December 2012 to May 2014 and served for many years as a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Criminal Law Committee. He will replace Justice Stephen Rothman AM, who served on the Bench of the Supreme Court for over 20 years. Mr Boulten SC will be sworn in at a ceremonial sitting in the Banco Court on 3 February 2026 at 9.15am.
Mr Gregory Sirtes SC was admitted as a solicitor in 1990, called to the Bar in 1992 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2008. He was a member of the NSW Bar Council at the time of his appointment. His principal areas of practice were in property transactions, family law, construction and contract disputes, commercial and equity matters, insurance, professional negligence and estate litigation. He replaces Justice Peter Garling RFD who has served as a Judge of the Supreme Court for more than 15 years. Mr Sirtes will be sworn in at a ceremonial sitting in the Banco Court on 5 February 2026.
Recent statements by the Chief Justice of New South Wales
The Attorney General announced that Justice Natalie Adams will succeed Justice Harrison as the Chief Judge at Common Law. She is the first female to hold this position and is a highly respected member of the Court.
Justice Adams was born and grew up in Narrandera, has been a member of the Supreme Court since April 2016 and, prior to that, was the Crown Advocate for New South Wales.
The Common Law Division of the Court has a broad jurisdiction ranging from all criminal trials in the Supreme Court and bail hearings, High Risk Offender applications, possession matters, professional negligence, personal injury and institutional abuse, administrative law and public and product liability class actions. Common Law Division judges also sit on the Court of Criminal Appeal which is often presided over by the Chief Judge at Common Law.
The Chief Judge at Common Law, together with the Chief Justice, President of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge in Equity and Principal Registrar, is a member of the Court’s executive.
The Australian Legal Convention will be held at the High Court of Australia in Canberra from 21 – 22 November. Chief Justices from Australia and New Zealand will gather with academics and legal practitioners to exchange ideas and seek practical solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the justice system. Most sessions will be accessible via livestream. View the Convention Program.
The Discussion Paper on Practical Legal Training Reform was issued on 30 September 2025 by the Legal Profession Admission Board of New South Wales.
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