- Crisafulli Government appoints Shane Doyle KC and Christopher Johnstone KC as Judges of the Supreme Court.
- Shane Doyle appointed to Court of Appeal in Brisbane and Christopher Johnstone appointed to Supreme Court in Townsville as the next Northern Judge.
- New Justices bring extensive and eminent legal experience to the Queensland bench.
The Crisafulli Government has announced the appointments of two of Queensland's most accomplished barristers to the Supreme Court bench.
Shane Doyle KC and Christopher Johnstone KC have been leaders in the legal profession and will be sworn-in as Supreme Court Justices on 28 July.
Mr Doyle, appointed as a Justice of both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, has spent nearly three decades building his legal expertise in commercial litigation, arbitration, appellate and corporations law in Australia, the UK and Singapore, and various Commissions.
Receiving the University of Queensland Medal (Law) in 1985, Doyle went on to be awarded a Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University where he attended as a Commonwealth scholar.
He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995 and is one of Australia's leading commercial barristers. He has also appeared in many Commissions of Inquiry over his career.
Mr Doyle was also a long-time contributor to the Queensland Bar Association, serving on its Council as President in 2014-15, Vice President in 2013-14, and Chair of the Commercial Law Committee for nearly 18 years.
Christopher Johnstone, commencing as a Justice of the Supreme Court (Trial Division), practised as a solicitor early in his legal career in commercial and insolvency litigation, commercial arbitration, and general banking.
He was named as 'preferred finance counsel in the Middle East' by Chambers Global in 2005.
Following his admission to the Bar in 2007, he has practiced primarily in commercial litigation, appearing regularly in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales, and the High Court of Solomon Islands.
He took silk in 2024, becoming a King's Counsel in Queensland.
Mr Johnstone was born in Townsville and will return next year as the Northern Judge.
He has also undertaken much work in the Townsville region during his service as a legal officer in the RAAF.
Throughout his military service, Mr Johnstone has appeared in military tribunals and inquiries, has deployed on active service to the Middle East and was awarded both the Australian Defence Medal and Operational Service Medal, Greater Middle East Operation.
Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington congratulated the new Judges on their well-deserved appointments.
"Mr Doyle's and Mr Johnstone's experience will be an asset to the judiciary and we are fortunate to have legal practitioners of such a high calibre here in Queensland," the Attorney said.
"I am appreciative they will serve the people of Queensland in their respective roles, which are of huge importance to our judiciary.
"Both appointees are eminently qualified and experienced and will make a significant contribution to our Courts."
The Attorney-General extended her appreciation and thanks for the outstanding service of Justice David North, as the Northern Judge in the Trial Division, who will take leave pending his retirement in March 2026, and Justice Peter Flanagan, retiring from the Court of Appeal on 25 July 2025.
