New Chief Justice appointed in Queensland Supreme Court

The Senior Judge Administrator of the Queensland Supreme Court has been appointed as the new Chief Justice to the Queensland Supreme Court following the retirement of Queensland’s first woman Chief Justice, the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the Honourable Justice Helen Bowskill on her appointment and thanked Chief Justice Holmes for her years of dedication and commitment to justice in Queensland.

“Justice Bowskill is well qualified for the top position of Chief Justice and brings a wealth of experience and skills to the role,” the Premier said.

“Her Honour, a university medalist in law from QUT, was admitted as a barrister to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1998. She practised widely in public, administrative and commercial law, with a particular focus on native title law.”

Justice Bowskill was later appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013, appointed to District Court on 10 November 2014 and then appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland’s Trial Division in 2017 after more than two and a half years as a Judge of the District Court.

Most recently, Justice Bowskill was appointed as the Senior Judge Administrator in August 2021, and has diligently approached the administrative role of the court since that time.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said Justice Bowskill is widely-respected within the legal profession, and is renowned for her measured and compassionate approach to the Court.

“Since her appointment as Senior Judge Administrator in 2021, Justice Bowskill has shown great leadership and will contribute greatly the Queensland justice system in her new role, the Attorney said.”

“Justice Bowskill has recently demonstrated her interest in mental health issues facing the legal profession, presenting papers at the ODPP Crown Prosecutor’s Conference and to Queensland Magistrates in 2021. These presentations have been well received and benefit the broader administration of justice.”

The Attorney-General said that Chief Justice Holmes has proved a steadfast leader of the Queensland justice system during her tenure as Chief Justice.

“Her Honour has been a trailblazer in the profession for so many women, and her leadership of the court during COVID-19 was commendable, ensuring Queenslanders have continued access to justice during the global pandemic,” the Attorney said.

The Attorney-General said that Chief Justice Holmes “is one of the foremost legal minds in the state, and she has proved a steadfast leader of the Queensland justice system during her tenure as Chief Justice. I thank the Chief Justice for her service to the courts and to Queensland over her distinguished career.”

Justice Bowskill will replace Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC on 19 March 2022.

For more information on Judicial appointments

visit:  https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/about/judicial-appointments. 

ENDS