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Chief Justice of Tasmania

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Chief Justice of Tasmania
Royal Arms used by the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Incumbent
Vacant
Supreme Court of Tasmania
StyleMr. Chief Justice
(informal)
Your Honor
(within court)
The Honorable
(formal)
StatusChief justice
Member ofJudiciary of the State of Tasmania
SeatTasmanian Supreme Court Building, Hobart
NominatorAttorney-General of Tasmania
AppointerThe Governor of Tasmania
with Executive Council and Cabinet deliberation
Term lengthNone
Mandatory retirement at 75 years of age
Constituting instrumentThe Supreme Court Act 1887
Formation1887

The Chief Justice of Tasmania is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of Tasmania. The Chief Justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court as well as the administrative head. They are responsible for arranging the business of the court and establishing its rules and procedures. The current Chief Justice is Alan Blow, who was appointed in 2013 by the then Governor, Peter Underwood who himself had been a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Blow CJ had been a puisne justice of the court since 2000. The Chief Justice also serves as Lieutenant-Governor.

Due to age limits previously changed on request of Blow, the incumbent Chief Justice must retire by the end of 2024, at which time the Governor will appoint a replacement.[1]

List of chief justices of Tasmania

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Name Term as Chief Justice
Sir John Pedder 4 March 1824 – 4 May 1854
Sir Valentine Fleming 7 August 1854 – 31 December 1869
Sir Francis Smith 8 August 1870 – 7 February 1885
Sir William Lambert Dobson 7 February 1885 – 17 March 1898
Sir John Stokell Dodds 29 October 1898 – 26 June 1914
Sir Herbert Nicholls 1 July 1914 – 31 October 1937
Sir Harold Crisp 21 December 1937 – 14 April 1940
Sir John Morris 15 April 1940 – 3 July 1956
Sir Stanley Burbury 28 August 1956 – 29 October 1973
Sir Guy Green 30 October 1973 – 1 September 1995
William Cox 4 September 1995 – 1 December 2004
Peter Underwood 2 December 2004 – 28 March 2008
Ewan Crawford 24 April 2008 – 7 April 2013
Alan Blow 8 April 2013 – present

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "State's top judge to step down after 'a long and distinguished career'". The Examiner. 29 June 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.