Two new Justices appointed and Justice Brown elevated

• Michael Copley KC and Rebecca Treston KC are new Supreme Court justices
• The Honourable Justice Susan Brown KC appointed to the Court of Appeal

The Supreme Court of Queensland is about to welcome to two new justices, while one of its sitting members will be elevated to the Court of Appeal division.

Michael Copley KC and Rebecca Treston KC were announced as the newest members of the bench by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Yvette D’Ath today, while the Honourable Justice Susan Brown KC had been appointed to the Court of Appeal division.

Mr Copley KC was a Crown Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for almost 20 years. His Honour has been Senior Counsel since 2008 (designation changed to Queen’s Counsel in 2013), and since 2011, has been in practise at the private Bar.

He has practised largely in criminal law and has appeared in numerous high-profile matters in the High Court of Australia, notably including The Queen v Baden-Clay in 2016.

Mr Copley KC was also Counsel Assisting the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry. 

Ms Treston KC, who was admitted as a solicitor in 1991 and a barrister in 1996, made history by becoming the first female president of the Bar Association of Queensland in 115 years when elected in 2018.

Ms Treston KC has been a Kings’ Counsel since 2013. She was named the Leneen Forde AC Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2021, and has been a part-time member of the Queensland Law Reform Commission.

Ms Treston KC has been consistently recognised as one of the pre-eminent silks in succession and estates litigation in Australia.

Mr Copley KC and Ms Treston KC take up their appointments from 8 May 2024.

Justice Brown has been elevated to the Court of Appeal division after more than seven years as a Supreme Court justice.

Her Honour was admitted as a solicitor in 1992 and spent two years honing her craft in London in the mid-1990s, before becoming a barrister in 1998, later being appointed Queens (now Kings) Counsel in 2011.

Justice Brown is a past vice-president of the Bar Association of Queensland, Director of the Law Council of Australia and Supreme Court Library Committee. Her Honour was named Woman Lawyer of the Year in 2016.

Her Honour begins her appointment on 25 June 2024.

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Yvette D’Ath:

“It is always a pleasure to announce appointments to the Bench, and those appointed have their credentials put through an extensive judicial selection process.

“Rebecca Treston has served as an inspiration amongst her peers, and Michael Copley’s resume speaks for itself. 

“Both will be fine additions to the Bench, and I wish them the very best in their judicial careers.

“Her Honour Justice Sue Brown is equally admired for her intellect, hard work and achievements, and I wish her well in her new role.”

ENDS