- The Crisafulli Government appoints Patrick McCafferty KC as Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland.
- Mr McCafferty brings extensive and eminent legal experience to the bench following two decades at the private Bar.
- Justice Martin Burns appointed the Senior Judge Administrator upon the retirement of Justice Glenn Martin AM.
The Crisafulli Government has announced the appointment of two esteemed senior legal figures to fill vacancies in the Supreme Court.
Leading Queensland barrister Patrick McCafferty KC will be sworn in as a Supreme Court Justice in the Trial Division on 24 November, following a highly successful career in private practice.
Mr McCafferty completed his legal education in Queensland, graduating from QUT with First Class Honours. He was called to the Bar in 2005 and developed a broad practice over two decades.
He was awarded a Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University and worked in 5RB chambers at the London Bar, which specialises in media and communications law, until 2011.
Upon returning to Australia, Mr McCafferty has appeared regularly in the District Court, Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and Federal Court of Australia in an array of trials and appeals.
Mr McCafferty was appointed King's Counsel in Queensland in 2018 and is widely recognised as one of Australia's leading barristers, particularly for his work in defamation and media law, but also in a wide range of areas including privacy, contempt, inquests, commissions of inquiry, equity, corporations, sports law, and in appellate matters.
The Honourable Justice Martin Burns has also been appointed the Senior Judge Administrator responsible for the administration of the Supreme Court's Trial Division.
Justice Burns will succeed Justice Glenn Martin AM following his retirement at the end of the year. His Honour is a long serving and respected Judge of the Supreme Court, having been appointed in 2014.
He was responsible for managing the Supreme Court Criminal List from 2019 to 2021 and has also been on the Council of the National Judicial College of Australia since 2022.
Attorney-General, Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington congratulated both judges on their well-deserved appointments.
"Mr McCafferty has demonstrated exceptional legal skill throughout his career and is renowned for his immense talent in a range of legal areas," the Attorney-General said.
"He is widely respected at the Bar and has regularly been retained by professional bodies including the Bar Association of Queensland and the Queensland Legal Services Commission.
"I am confident he will be an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court.
"I also thank Justice Burns for taking on additional responsibilities as the Senior Judge Administrator, following more than a decade of exceptional service on the Supreme Court Bench.
"This important role has been held by Justice Glenn Martin AM since 2022 and I would like to acknowledge his eminent and distinguished service to the judiciary and wish him the very best in retirement."
Mr Patrick McCafferty KC commences as a Justice of the Supreme Court (Trial Division) on 24 November, with Justice Burns commencing in the Senior Judge Administrator role on 31 December.
