Chief Justice of New South Wales

The Chief Justice of New South Wales is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of New South Wales. 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 Andrew Bell who was appointed by Governor Margaret Beazley.

List of chief justices of New South Wales

class="wikitable sortable" ! No. !! Image !! Chief Justice !! Term began !! Term ended !! Time in of office!! Governor appointed !! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Francis\|Forbes\|Francis Forbes}}	align=center \| 13 October 1823	align=center \| 1 July 1837	align=right\|{{ayd\|1823\|10\|13\|1837\|07\|01}}	Major General Sir Thomas Brisbane {{post-nominals\|country=UK\|sep=,\|GCB\|GCH\|FRS\|FRSE}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=C.H. \|last=Currey \|title=Forbes, Sir Francis (1784–1841) \|id2=forbes-sir-francis-2052 }}
2	80px	{{sortname\|Sir James\|Dowling\|James Dowling}}	align=center \| 29 August 1837	align="center" \| 27 September 1844	align=right\|{{ayd\|1837\|08\|29\|1844\|09\|27}}	General Sir Richard Bourke {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/95 \|title=Sir James Dowling \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
3	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Alfred\|Stephen\|Alfred Stephen}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|CB\|PC}}	align=center \| 7 October 1844	align=center \| 6 November 1873	align=right\|{{ayd\|1844\|10\|07\|1873\|11\|06}}	Major Sir George Gipps	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/11 \|title=Sir Alfred Stephen KCMG, CB, GCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
4	80px	{{sortname\|Sir James\|Martin\|James Martin (premier)}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB\|QC}}	align=center \| 19 November 1873	align=center \| 4 November 1886	align=right\|{{ayd\|1873\|11\|19\|1886\|11\|04}}	Lord Rosmead {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|PC}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/99 \|title=Sir James Martin \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
5	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Julian\|Salomons\|Julian Salomons}}	align=center \| 12 November 1886	align=center \| 27 November 1886	align=right \| {{ayd\|1886\|11\|12\|1886\|11\|27}}	rowspan=2 \| The Marquess Lincolnshire {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KG\|GCMG\|PC\|JP\|DL}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=S. \|last=Edgar \|first2=B \|last2=Nairn \|title=Salomons, Sir Julian Emanuel (1835–1909) \|id2=salomons-sir-julian-emanuel-4532 }}
6	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Frederick\|Darley\|Frederick Matthew Darley}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|PC}}	align=center \| 29 November 1886	align=center \| 4 January 1910	align=right\|{{ayd\|1886\|11\|29\|1910\|01\|04}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/97 \|title=The Rt Hon Sir Frederick Matthew Darley PC, KCMG, GCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
7	80px	{{sortname\|Sir William\|Cullen\|William Portus Cullen}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 28 January 1910	align=center \| 27 January 1925	align=right\|{{ayd\|1910\|01\|28\|1925\|01\|27}}	The Viscount Chelmsford {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCSI\|GCMG\|GCIE\|GBE\|PC}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/98 \|title=Hon. Sir William Portus Cullen Kt., KCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
8	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Philip\|Street\|Philip Whistler Street}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 28 January 1925	align=center \| 31 January 1934	align=right\|{{ayd\|1925\|01\|28\|1934\|01\|31}}	rowspan=2 \| Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB\|KCMG\|KBE\|MVO}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/33 \|title=Hon. Sir Kenneth Whistler Street K.C.M.G. \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
9	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Frederick\|Jordan\|Frederick Richard Jordan}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 1 February 1934	align=center \| 4 November 1949	align=right\|{{ayd\|1934\|02\|01\|1949\|11\|04}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=J.M. \|last= Bennett\|title=Jordan, Sir Frederick Richard (1881–1949) \|id2=jordan-sir-frederick-richard-6884 }}
10	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Kenneth\|Street\|Kenneth Street (jurist)}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KStJ}}	align=center \| 6 January 1950	align=center \| 27 January 1960	align=right\|{{ayd\|1950\|01\|06\|1960\|01\|27}}	Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CB\|KStJ}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/33 \|title=Hon. Sir Kenneth Whistler Street K.C.M.G. \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
11	80px	{{sortname\|Herbert\|Evatt\|H. V. Evatt}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KstJ\|QC}}	align=center \| 15 February 1960	align=center \| 24 October 1962	align=right\|{{ayd\|1960\|02\|15\|1962\|10\|24}}	rowspan=2 \| Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CB\|CBE\|DSO}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/102 \|title=Herbert Vere Evatt PC \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
12		Sir Leslie Herron {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KBE\|CMG\|KStJ}}	align=center \| 25 October 1962	align=center \| 22 May 1972	align=right\|{{ayd\|1962\|10\|25\|1972\|05\|22}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/8 \|title=Sir Leslie James Herron KBE, CMG, K.St.J.\|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
13	80px	Sir John Kerr {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AK\|GCMG\|GCVO\|QC}}	align=center \| 23 May 1972	align=center \| 27 June 1974	align=right\|{{ayd\|1972\|05\|23\|1974\|06\|27}}	rowspan=2 \| Sir Roden Cutler {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|VC\|AK\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CBE}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=P. \|last=Edwards \|title=Kerr, Sir John Robert (1914–1991) \|id2=kerr-sir-john-robert-23431 \|access-date=3 July 2018}}
14	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Laurence\|Street\|Laurence Street}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KCMG\|QC}}	align=center \| 28 June 1974	align=center \| 1 November 1988	align=right\|{{ayd\|1974\|06\|28\|1988\|11\|01}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/36 \|title=Hon. Sir Laurence Whistler Street AC, KCMG, KStJ \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
15	80px	{{sortname\|Murray\|Gleeson}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|QC}}	align=center \| 2 November 1988	align=center \| 21 May 1998	align=right\|{{ayd\|1988\|11\|02\|1998\|05\|21}}	Air Marshal Sir James Rowland {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KBE\|DFC\|AFC}}
16	80px	{{sortname\|James\|Spigelman}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|QC}}	align=center \| 25 May 1998	align=center \| 31 May 2011	align=right\|{{ayd\|1998\|05\|19\|2011\|05\|25}}	Gordon Samuels {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|CVO\|QC}}	{{cite web \|url=http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Publications/Speeches/Pre-2015%20Speeches/Spigelman/spigelman_speeches_1998.pdf \|title=Swearing In Ceremony of The Honourable J J Spigelman QC \|date=25 May 1998}}
17		{{sortname\|Tom\|Bathurst}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|AC}}	align=center \| 1 June 2011	align=center \| 5 March 2022	align=right \| {{ayd\|2011-06-01\|2022-03-05}}	Dame Marie Bashir {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AD\|CVO}}	{{cite journal\|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/NSWJSchol/2011/17.html \|title=Swearing-In Ceremony of the Honourable TF Bathurst QC\|journal=New South Wales Judicial Scholarship \|date=8 December 2023 }} [2011] NSW Judicial Scholarship 17.
18		{{sortname\|Andrew\|Bell\|dab=judge}}	align=center \| 7 March 2022	align=center \|	align=right \| {{ayd\|7 March 2022}}	Margaret Beazley {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KC}}	{{Cite web \|title=New Chief Justice of NSW \|url=https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/dcj/news-and-media/media-releases/2022/new-chief-justice-for-nsw.html \|access-date=2022-02-28 \|website=NSW Department of Communities and Justice }}{{Dead link\|date=December 2023 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}

References

Category:Lists of judges of Australian superior courts

class="wikitable sortable" ! No. !! Image !! Chief Justice !! Term began !! Term ended !! Time in of office!! Governor appointed !! class="unsortable" \| Notes
1	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Francis\|Forbes\|Francis Forbes}}	align=center \| 13 October 1823	align=center \| 1 July 1837	align=right\|{{ayd\|1823\|10\|13\|1837\|07\|01}}	Major General Sir Thomas Brisbane {{post-nominals\|country=UK\|sep=,\|GCB\|GCH\|FRS\|FRSE}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=C.H. \|last=Currey \|title=Forbes, Sir Francis (1784–1841) \|id2=forbes-sir-francis-2052 }}
2	80px	{{sortname\|Sir James\|Dowling\|James Dowling}}	align=center \| 29 August 1837	align="center" \| 27 September 1844	align=right\|{{ayd\|1837\|08\|29\|1844\|09\|27}}	General Sir Richard Bourke {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/95 \|title=Sir James Dowling \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
3	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Alfred\|Stephen\|Alfred Stephen}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|CB\|PC}}	align=center \| 7 October 1844	align=center \| 6 November 1873	align=right\|{{ayd\|1844\|10\|07\|1873\|11\|06}}	Major Sir George Gipps	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/11 \|title=Sir Alfred Stephen KCMG, CB, GCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
4	80px	{{sortname\|Sir James\|Martin\|James Martin (premier)}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB\|QC}}	align=center \| 19 November 1873	align=center \| 4 November 1886	align=right\|{{ayd\|1873\|11\|19\|1886\|11\|04}}	Lord Rosmead {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|PC}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/99 \|title=Sir James Martin \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
5	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Julian\|Salomons\|Julian Salomons}}	align=center \| 12 November 1886	align=center \| 27 November 1886	align=right \| {{ayd\|1886\|11\|12\|1886\|11\|27}}	rowspan=2 \| The Marquess Lincolnshire {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KG\|GCMG\|PC\|JP\|DL}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=S. \|last=Edgar \|first2=B \|last2=Nairn \|title=Salomons, Sir Julian Emanuel (1835–1909) \|id2=salomons-sir-julian-emanuel-4532 }}
6	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Frederick\|Darley\|Frederick Matthew Darley}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCMG\|PC}}	align=center \| 29 November 1886	align=center \| 4 January 1910	align=right\|{{ayd\|1886\|11\|29\|1910\|01\|04}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/97 \|title=The Rt Hon Sir Frederick Matthew Darley PC, KCMG, GCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
7	80px	{{sortname\|Sir William\|Cullen\|William Portus Cullen}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 28 January 1910	align=center \| 27 January 1925	align=right\|{{ayd\|1910\|01\|28\|1925\|01\|27}}	The Viscount Chelmsford {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|GCSI\|GCMG\|GCIE\|GBE\|PC}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/98 \|title=Hon. Sir William Portus Cullen Kt., KCMG \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
8	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Philip\|Street\|Philip Whistler Street}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 28 January 1925	align=center \| 31 January 1934	align=right\|{{ayd\|1925\|01\|28\|1934\|01\|31}}	rowspan=2 \| Admiral Sir Dudley de Chair {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCB\|KCMG\|KBE\|MVO}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/33 \|title=Hon. Sir Kenneth Whistler Street K.C.M.G. \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
9	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Frederick\|Jordan\|Frederick Richard Jordan}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG}}	align=center \| 1 February 1934	align=center \| 4 November 1949	align=right\|{{ayd\|1934\|02\|01\|1949\|11\|04}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=J.M. \|last= Bennett\|title=Jordan, Sir Frederick Richard (1881–1949) \|id2=jordan-sir-frederick-richard-6884 }}
10	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Kenneth\|Street\|Kenneth Street (jurist)}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KStJ}}	align=center \| 6 January 1950	align=center \| 27 January 1960	align=right\|{{ayd\|1950\|01\|06\|1960\|01\|27}}	Lieutenant General Sir John Northcott {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CB\|KStJ}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/33 \|title=Hon. Sir Kenneth Whistler Street K.C.M.G. \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
11	80px	{{sortname\|Herbert\|Evatt\|H. V. Evatt}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KstJ\|QC}}	align=center \| 15 February 1960	align=center \| 24 October 1962	align=right\|{{ayd\|1960\|02\|15\|1962\|10\|24}}	rowspan=2 \| Lieutenant General Sir Eric Woodward {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CB\|CBE\|DSO}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/102 \|title=Herbert Vere Evatt PC \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
12		Sir Leslie Herron {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|KBE\|CMG\|KStJ}}	align=center \| 25 October 1962	align=center \| 22 May 1972	align=right\|{{ayd\|1962\|10\|25\|1972\|05\|22}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/8 \|title=Sir Leslie James Herron KBE, CMG, K.St.J.\|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
13	80px	Sir John Kerr {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AK\|GCMG\|GCVO\|QC}}	align=center \| 23 May 1972	align=center \| 27 June 1974	align=right\|{{ayd\|1972\|05\|23\|1974\|06\|27}}	rowspan=2 \| Sir Roden Cutler {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|VC\|AK\|KCMG\|KCVO\|CBE}}	{{cite AuDB \|first=P. \|last=Edwards \|title=Kerr, Sir John Robert (1914–1991) \|id2=kerr-sir-john-robert-23431 \|access-date=3 July 2018}}
14	80px	{{sortname\|Sir Laurence\|Street\|Laurence Street}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KCMG\|QC}}	align=center \| 28 June 1974	align=center \| 1 November 1988	align=right\|{{ayd\|1974\|06\|28\|1988\|11\|01}}	{{cite web \|url=https://www.records.nsw.gov.au/person/36 \|title=Hon. Sir Laurence Whistler Street AC, KCMG, KStJ \|publisher=NSW State Archives & Records}}
15	80px	{{sortname\|Murray\|Gleeson}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|QC}}	align=center \| 2 November 1988	align=center \| 21 May 1998	align=right\|{{ayd\|1988\|11\|02\|1998\|05\|21}}	Air Marshal Sir James Rowland {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KBE\|DFC\|AFC}}
16	80px	{{sortname\|James\|Spigelman}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|QC}}	align=center \| 25 May 1998	align=center \| 31 May 2011	align=right\|{{ayd\|1998\|05\|19\|2011\|05\|25}}	Gordon Samuels {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|CVO\|QC}}	{{cite web \|url=http://www.supremecourt.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Publications/Speeches/Pre-2015%20Speeches/Spigelman/spigelman_speeches_1998.pdf \|title=Swearing In Ceremony of The Honourable J J Spigelman QC \|date=25 May 1998}}
17		{{sortname\|Tom\|Bathurst}} {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|AC}}	align=center \| 1 June 2011	align=center \| 5 March 2022	align=right \| {{ayd\|2011-06-01\|2022-03-05}}	Dame Marie Bashir {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AD\|CVO}}	{{cite journal\|url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/NSWJSchol/2011/17.html \|title=Swearing-In Ceremony of the Honourable TF Bathurst QC\|journal=New South Wales Judicial Scholarship \|date=8 December 2023 }} [2011] NSW Judicial Scholarship 17.
18		{{sortname\|Andrew\|Bell\|dab=judge}}	align=center \| 7 March 2022	align=center \|	align=right \| {{ayd\|7 March 2022}}	Margaret Beazley {{post-nominals\|country=AUS\|sep=,\|AC\|KC}}	{{Cite web \|title=New Chief Justice of NSW \|url=https://www.dcj.nsw.gov.au/dcj/news-and-media/media-releases/2022/new-chief-justice-for-nsw.html \|access-date=2022-02-28 \|website=NSW Department of Communities and Justice }}{{Dead link\|date=December 2023 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}

Chief Justice of New South Wales

List of chief justices of New South Wales

See also

References