Alan Blow Explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable
Chief Justice
Alan Blow
Order1:14th
Office1:Chief Justice of Tasmania
Term Start1:8 April 2013
Governor1:Peter Underwood
Kate Warner
Barbara Baker
Predecessor1:Ewan Crawford
Office2:Lieutenant-Governor of Tasmania
Term Start2:8 April 2013
Governor2:Peter Underwood
Kate Warner
Barbara Baker
Birth Date:1949 12, df=yes
Birth Place:Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Birthname:Alan Michael Blow
Nationality:Australian
Alma Mater:University of Sydney
Profession:Barrister

Alan Michael Blow (born 3 December 1949) is an Australian judge who is the current Chief Justice of Tasmania.

After graduating from the University of Sydney with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees, he practised as a barrister in civil litigation, criminal and family law, before being appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 2000.[1] He has also a long time lecturer in Supreme Court Advocacy at the University of Tasmania's Centre for Legal Studies, teaching postgraduate legal practice students.

In 2009, Blow presided over the trial of Susan Neill-Fraser for the murder of Bob Chappell. He sentenced Neill-Fraser to 26 years’ imprisonment.[2] The sentence was later reduced to 23 years’ imprisonment.[3]

On 8 April 2013, Blow was appointed Chief Justice of Tasmania, replacing Ewan Crawford who had reached the mandatory retirement age of 72.[4]

In 2018 Blow was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, particularly as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, to legal education and professional standards, and to the community".[5]

In Dec 2021, Blow would have reached compulsory retirement age of 72 for a Tasmanian Supreme Court Justice. However Tasmanian Parliament had extended the compulsory retirement age to 75 at Blow's request.

In December 2023, Blow came under criticism for a “grossly inappropriate” text message to Justice Gregory Geason, suggesting that he could resign to stop a parliament-led disciplinary process “going further”. Blow declined to make any public comment.[6]

References

 

Notes and References

  1. http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/302124/APLEC-2012-Registration-Programme.pdf APLEC 2012 Conference Program
  2. Web site: Tasmania v Neill-Fraser, Comments on Passing Sentence of 27 October 2010. 1 September 2019.
  3. Web site: Neill-Fraser v Tasmania [2012] TASCCA 2 at [221]].
  4. News: Judge warns of class divide . Killick, David . The Mercury . 29 March 2013 . 22 May 2013.
  5. News: Australia Day Honours 2018: The full list. 2018-01-26. The Sydney Morning Herald. 2018-01-25. en-US.
  6. Web site: Chief Justice’s secret SMS to judge ignites scandal. The Australian. 10 December 2023.