Australian Lawyers Weekly reports
Following the retirement of Queensland’s first woman Chief Justice, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman have named the new top judge in the Sunshine State.
The Honourable Justice Helen Bowskill, who is currently the Senior Judge Administrator of the Queensland Supreme Court, has been appointed as that court’s new Chief Justice.
She succeeds the Honourable Chief Justice Catherine Holmes AC, who was the first woman appointed as Chief Justice in QLD. Her Honour will replace Holmes CJ on 19 March 2022.
The news follows the recent appointment of a new Chief Justice and new president of the Court of Appeal in New South Wales, which Lawyers Weekly reported on in mid-February.
Bowskill J was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013, appointed to the District Court in 2014 and then as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland’s Trial Division in 2017.
Premier Palaszczuk congratulated Bowskill J 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.
