New Resident Judge appointed to ACT Supreme Court

Associate Justice Verity McWilliam: becoming a Resident Judge a “natural next step”. Photo: ANU/Supplied.

Canberra jurist Verity McWilliam has been elevated to Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.

Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury announced on Monday (3 April) the appointment of Ms McWilliam, who is currently an ACT Associate Judge.

Mr Rattenbury said Ms McWilliam’s experience as an Associate Judge, along with a lengthy legal career of more than 20 years in the private and public sectors as well as in academia, meant she was well equipped for this new role.

“Associate Justice McWilliam’s appointment as a Resident Judge seems a natural next step for the judicial officer,” he said. “Her expertise will be invaluable to the Court and for the administration of justice in the ACT.”

Associate Justice McWilliam was appointed to the ACT Supreme Court in 2017. Before her appointment, she had been a barrister at the NSW Bar in Sydney, with a general practice across both civil and criminal jurisdictions.

She was also an adjunct lecturer at both the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales in public and constitutional law.

Chief Justice Lucy McCallum welcomed the appointment, saying Associate Justice McWilliam was a highly respected jurist who brought a unique breadth of experience to her role.

“Her fairness, humanity and good judgment will serve the people of the Territory well and will build upon the strength of the court,” the Chief Justice said.

Associate Justice McWilliam said she was delighted to accept the position and looked forward to continuing to serve the people of the ACT.

As a graduate of Canberra Girls Grammar School and the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2000, she was proud to serve in her hometown of Canberra.

She is expected to be sworn in this week, with a ceremonial sitting of the Supreme Court to formally welcome her to her new role to take place later this month.

Associate Justice McWilliam will fill the vacancy left by Justice Geoffrey Kennett when he was appointed to the Federal Court in February this year.