- Attorney General announces appointment of the Honourable Justice Fiona Seaward SC as a Judge of Western Australia's Court of Appeal
- Justice Seaward served as a Judge of the Supreme Court general division for almost three years
The Honourable Justice Fiona Seaward SC has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal of Western Australia.
Her Honour's appointment fills the vacancy left by an outgoing Judge of Appeal and takes effect from 5 January 2026.
The Supreme Court has two divisions - the general division and the State's main appeal court, the Court of Appeal.
Justice Seaward has been a Judge of the Supreme Court general division since March 2023.
Prior to joining the judiciary, her Honour served as counsel and a solicitor with the State Solicitor's Office (SSO) for 22 years.
Justice Seaward's roles at the SSO included acting Deputy State Solicitor in the public and general litigation section and Senior Assistant State Counsel.
Her Honour was a member of the SSO's senior management team and managed the public and general litigation team.
She appeared as counsel for the State and its agencies in all courts and tribunals on complex cases, including matters involving public and constitutional law.
These included counsel for a WA Government department in the Perth Casino Royal Commission in 2021. Her Honour also provided legal advice on a range of matters and legislative amendments.
Admitted to practice in 2001, Justice Seaward was appointed a Senior Counsel in 2022.
As stated by Attorney General Dr Tony Buti:
"Justice Fiona Seaward SC is highly respected in the legal profession having gained extensive experience in litigation and high-level advice during her career at the State Solicitor's Office.
"Her Honour's intimate knowledge of the Supreme Court as a presiding Judge in the court's general division for almost three years will see her seamlessly transition to the Court of Appeal.
"Justice Seaward's appointment brings substantive gender parity in the Court of Appeal, which will soon consist of a male President and three female and three male Judges of Appeal.
"I also thank the Honourable Justice Robert Mazza for his 16 years of service on the Supreme Court bench including the past 14 years as a Judge of Appeal and wish him well on his upcoming retirement."
