Chief Justice of Queensland explained

The chief justice of Queensland is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of Queensland. The chief justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court, as well as the administrative head, responsible for arranging the business of the court and establishing its rules and procedures.

The current chief justice is Helen Bowskill, who was sworn in on 22 March 2022. Justice Bowskill is the second female chief justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland after her predecessor, Catherine Holmes SC.

List of chief justices of Queensland

NameTermReason for leavingDeath
Sir James Cockle21 February 1863 – 24 June 1879Retired27 January 1895
Sir Charles Lilley25 June 1879 – 13 March 1893Resigned20 August 1897
Sir Samuel Griffith, 13 March 1893 – 4 October 1903Appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia9 August 1920
Sir Pope Alexander Cooper, 21 October 1903 – 31 March 1922Retired30 August 1923
Thomas McCawley1 April 1922 – 16 April 1925Death16 April 1925
Sir James Blair, 24 April 1925 – 16 May 1940 Retired18 November 1944
Hugh Denis Macrossan17 May 1940 – 23 June 1940Death23 June 1940
Sir William Webb, 27 June 1940 – 15 May 1946Appointed to the High Court of Australia11 August 1972
Neal Macrossan23 April 1946 – 30 December 1955Death30 December 1955
Sir Alan Mansfield, 9 February 1956 – 21 February 1966Appointed as Governor of Queensland17 July 1980
William Mack24 February 1966 – 12 May 1971Retired26 July 1979
Sir Mostyn Hanger, 13 May 1971 – 18 July 1977Retired11 August 1980
Sir Charles Wanstall19 July 1977 – 17 February 1982Retired17 October 1999
Sir Walter Campbell, 18 February 1982 – 7 July 1985Appointed as Governor of Queensland4 September 2004
Sir Dormer Andrews8 July 1985 – 7 April 1989Retired28 July 2004
John Murtagh Macrossan10 April 1989 – 16 February 1998Retired5 August 2008
Paul de Jersey, 21 September 1998 – 8 July 2014Appointed as Governor of Queensland
Tim Carmody, 8 July 2014 – 1 July 2015Resigned [1]
Catherine Holmes, SC11 September 2015 – 19 March 2022Retired [2]
Helen Bowskill, 19 March 2022 - present

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Queensland's Chief Justice Tim Carmody resigns in 'dignified end to controversy'. 1 July 2015. ABC News. 2 April 2019. 6 April 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190406162116/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-01/queenslands-chief-justice-tim-carmody-resigns/6587422. live.
  2. Web site: New Chief Justice appointed in Queensland Supreme Court. 24 February 2022. Queensland Cabinet. 21 March 2022.