Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory

Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
ACT Law Courts building
35.281015°S 149.127245°E / -35.281015; 149.127245
Established	1 January 1934 (1934-01-01)
Location	Canberra
Coordinates	35.281015°S 149.127245°E / -35.281015; 149.127245
Appeals to	High Court of Australia
Judge term length	mandatory retirement by age of 70
Number of positions	4
Website	www.courts.act.gov.au/supreme/
Chief Justice of the Australian Capital Territory
Currently	Helen Murrell
Since	28 October 2013 (2013-10-28)

The Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory is the superior court for the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters (although it usually only hears matters involving more than A$250,000), and hears the most serious criminal matters. Criminal trials may be heard before a judge and jury, or by judge alone at the election of the accused. All matters are heard before a single judge, including appellate matters from the Magistrates Court, the Childrens Court, and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In the Australian court hierarchy it is one of eight state and territory Supreme Courts having unlimited jurisdiction in their respective parts of Australia. Whilst the Supreme Court is the highest ACT court in the Australian court hierarchy, an appeal by special leave can be made to the High Court of Australia.

The Court has the jurisdictional power to hear matters that relate to the Jervis Bay Territory, the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Heard and McDonald Islands Territory, although it has never exercised that power.

History

The court was established on 1 January 1934 by the Seat of Government Supreme Court Act 1933 (Cth), since amended and now known as the Supreme Court Act 1933 (ACT). The first judge of the court was Lionel Lukin. The first Chief Judge was Russell Walter Fox, appointed when the office was created in 1977. It was substituted with the office of Chief Justice in 1982 and the first Chief Justice was Richard Blackburn.

Pursuant to section 37E of the Supreme Court Act 1933 (ACT), the court is known as the Court of Appeal when it exercises its appellate jurisdiction under Part 2A of the Act.

The courthouse includes two jury courts and in December 2013 The Canberra Times reported that the court would soon be upgraded to meet the requirements of the city's judicial system over the next 50 years.

Judges of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory

Chief Justice

Name	Date appointed	Term in office	Notes
Chief Justice Helen Murrell	28 October 2013 (2013-10-28)	11 years, 28 days

Judges

Name	Date appointed	Term in office	Notes
Justice Richard Refshauge	1 February 2008 (2008-02-01)	16 years, 298 days
Justice Hilary Penfold	1 February 2008 (2008-02-01)
Justice John Burns	1 August 2011 (2011-08-01)	13 years, 116 days

Additional Judges

Name	Date appointed	Term in office	Notes
Justice Murray Wilcox	23 April 1983 (1983-04-23)	41 years, 216 days
Justice Jeffrey Spender
Justice Donnell Ryan	27 April 1989 (1989-04-27)	35 years, 212 days
Justice Rodney Madgwick	12 August 1996 (1996-08-12)	28 years, 105 days
Justice Roger Gyles	12 February 2001 (2001-02-12)	23 years, 287 days
Justice Mark Weinberg	17 February 2002 (2002-02-17)	23 years, 282 days
Justice Robert French	November 2003 (2003-11)	21 years, 24 days
Justice Michael Moore
Justice Brian Tamberlin
Justice Shane Marshall
Justice Anthony North
Justice Margaret Stone
Justice James Allsop
Justice Annabelle Bennett
Justice Bruce Lander
Justice John Dowsett	August 2004 (2004-08)	20 years, 116 days

Acting Judges

Name	Date appointed	Notes

Master/Associate Judge

Name	Date appointed	Comments	Notes
David Mossop	22 May 2013 (2013-05-22)	Appointed as Master. The office of Master changed to Associate Judge with effect from 21 April 2015.

See also

• List of Judges of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory