Chief Justice of Western Australia
Encyclopedia
The Chief Justice of Western Australia is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia
and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australia
n state of Western Australia
. The Chief Justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court as well as the administrative head. He or she is responsible for arranging the business of the court and establishing its rules and procedures.
The office of Chief Justice was created in 1861 when the Supreme Court was established through the amalgamation of the Court of Quarter Sessions and the Civil Court. The first Chief Justice was the West Indian born Sir Archibald Burt
. Initially, in line with the British colonial policy of the time, the Chief Justices were appointed by the Colonial Office
from outside the colony. It was not until 1901 that Western Australia had its first Western Australian born Chief Justice.
By convention the Chief Justice acts as the Governor
's deputy and is often referred to as the Lieutenant-Governor.
The current Chief Justice is Wayne Martin
, who was appointed on 1 May 2006 to replace David Malcolm
. At the time of his appointment Martin was one of WA's most senior QC
's.
Supreme Court of Western Australia
The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters , and hears the most serious criminal matters.The Supreme Court consists of a General Division The Supreme Court of Western...
and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n state of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The Chief Justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court as well as the administrative head. He or she is responsible for arranging the business of the court and establishing its rules and procedures.
The office of Chief Justice was created in 1861 when the Supreme Court was established through the amalgamation of the Court of Quarter Sessions and the Civil Court. The first Chief Justice was the West Indian born Sir Archibald Burt
Archibald Burt
Sir Archibald Paull Burt Kt QC was a British lawyer from the colonies of the West Indies, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.-Biography:Archibald Paull Burt was born in 1810, in...
. Initially, in line with the British colonial policy of the time, the Chief Justices were appointed by the Colonial Office
Secretary of State for the Colonies
The Secretary of State for the Colonies or Colonial Secretary was the British Cabinet minister in charge of managing the United Kingdom's various colonial dependencies....
from outside the colony. It was not until 1901 that Western Australia had its first Western Australian born Chief Justice.
By convention the Chief Justice acts as the Governor
Governor of Western Australia
The Governor of Western Australia is the representative in Western Australia of Australia's Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The Governor performs important constitutional, ceremonial and community functions, including:* presiding over the Executive Council;...
's deputy and is often referred to as the Lieutenant-Governor.
The current Chief Justice is Wayne Martin
Wayne Martin
Wayne Stewart Martin QC is the current Chief Justice of Western Australia. He was formally appointed on 4 April 2006.-Education:...
, who was appointed on 1 May 2006 to replace David Malcolm
David Malcolm
David Kingsley Malcolm, AC, QC is an Australian lawyer and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1988 until his retirement from the bench on 7 February 2006....
. At the time of his appointment Martin was one of WA's most senior QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
's.
List of Chief Justices of Western Australia
- Archibald BurtArchibald BurtSir Archibald Paull Burt Kt QC was a British lawyer from the colonies of the West Indies, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.-Biography:Archibald Paull Burt was born in 1810, in...
(1861–1879) - Henry WrenfordsleyHenry WrenfordsleySir Henry Thomas Wrenfordsley Kt was an Irish lawyer and was the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.-Early life:...
(1880–1883) - Alexander OnslowAlexander OnslowSir Alexander Campbell Onslow was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia....
(1883–1901) - Sir Edward StoneEdward Albert StoneSir Edward Albert Stone KCMG was an Australian lawyer, lieutenant governor, politician and the fourth Chief Justice of Western Australia....
(1901–1906) - Stephen ParkerStephen Henry ParkerSir Stephen Henry Parker KCMG was a lawyer and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1906 to 1914.-Early life:...
(1906–1913) - Robert McMillanRobert McMillan (Australian judge)Sir Robert Furse McMillan KCMG was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia....
(1913–1931) - John NorthmoreJohn NorthmoreSir John Alfred Northmore KCMG was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.-See also:* Judiciary of Australia...
(1931–1945) - John DwyerJohn Dwyer (Australian judge)Sir John Patrick Dwyer KCMG was Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of the State of Western Australia from 1945 to 1959.- Early life :...
(1945–1959) - Albert WolffAlbert Wolff (Australian judge)Sir Albert Asher Wolff KCMG was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia...
(1959–1969) - Lawrence JacksonLawrence Jackson (Australian judge)Sir Lawrence Walter Jackson KCMG was a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia. He was appointed as a Supreme Court Judge in 1949 and became Chief Justice in 1969...
(1969–1977) - Francis BurtFrancis BurtSir Francis Theodore Page Burt, AC, KCMG, QC , commonly known as "Red", Australian jurist, served as Chief Justice of Western Australia from 1977 until 1988 and as Governor of Western Australia from 1990 to 1993. He was also Lieutenant Governor of the State from 1977 to 1990...
(1977–1988) - David MalcolmDavid MalcolmDavid Kingsley Malcolm, AC, QC is an Australian lawyer and was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1988 until his retirement from the bench on 7 February 2006....
(1988–2006) - Wayne MartinWayne MartinWayne Stewart Martin QC is the current Chief Justice of Western Australia. He was formally appointed on 4 April 2006.-Education:...
(2006 – )