- Joshua Thomson SC appointed as President of the WA Court of Appeal
- Highly experienced barrister previously served as WA Solicitor-General
Former Solicitor-General and barrister Joshua Thomson SC has been appointed President of the Court of Appeal of Western Australia and a Judge of the Supreme Court.
His appointment follows the retirement of Justice Michael Buss KC, who served on the Supreme Court bench for nearly two decades and as Court of Appeal President for the past nine years.
Mr Thomson was elected to the bar in 2001 after working at the Crown Solicitor's Office of WA for seven years.
As a barrister, he practised in numerous areas including contractual and insolvency disputes, and building, construction, maritime, insurance, administrative and constitutional law matters.
He appeared as counsel in lengthy trials and complex appeals and provided strategic advice to major financial institutions and mining clients.
Mr Thomson became WA's Solicitor-General in 2018 and over the next five years acted for the State on cases of constitutional significance heard in the High Court.
These included successfully defending the State Government's decisions to close Western Australia's borders during the COVID-19 pandemic and enact the Iron Ore Processing (Mineralogy Pty Ltd) Agreement Amendment Act 2020 in the State's dispute with Clive Palmer.
He also successfully appealed a native title decision by the Federal Court culminating in the preservation of the public's right to access all Australian beaches.
Mr Thomson, who was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 2012, returned to chambers in 2023.
In the ensuing period he handled complex commercial, government and constitutional litigation and advice across Australia.
He starts his role in the judiciary on 11 June.
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
"I congratulate Joshua Thomson SC on his appointment as WA Court of Appeal President.
"As the Solicitor-General, Mr Thomson appeared in high-profile proceedings, conducting himself with distinction. He advised the Premier, Ministers and State entities on legal and legislative matters, and also reviewed draft legislation.
"He worked on multiple complex matters as a barrister including a case involving a cyberattack and alleged breach of the Commonwealth Privacy Act, a construction and insolvency dispute involving international and national banks, and several receiverships.
"Mr Thomson is highly respected in the legal profession and his extensive expertise built over a career spanning 30 years makes him eminently suitable to head the Court of Appeal.
"I also take this opportunity to thank the recently retired President of the Court of Appeal, Michael Buss KC, for his outstanding service as a Judge of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal over nearly two decades, including nine years as President."
