Former crime and corruption commissioner to replace retiring Tasmanian Chief Justice
Positions made vacant by the retiring of the state’s Chief Justice and resignation of disgraced judge Gregory Geason have been filled. What we know about the two new judges.
Tasmania
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A former acting Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia will replace the recently retired Hon Justice Alan Blow AO as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania.
On Monday, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Guy Barnett, said Mr Chris Shanahan SC had been appointed to the top judicial role by Tasmanian Governor Barbara Baker.
Current Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Kate Cuthbertson SC, has been appointed as a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, replacing disgraced former judge Gregory Geason.
Minister Barnett said Mr Shanahan would commence as Chief Justice on 20 January 2025, while Judge Cuthbertson will take up her position on 3 February.
The Attorney-General said the two positions has been advertised nationally, with both appointments made in line with the Protocol for Judicial Appointments, which included consultation with key stakeholders.
“I congratulate and warmly welcome both Mr Shanahan and Judge Cuthbertson on their appointments to these important roles and look forward to their commencement,” the Attorney-General said.
“Mr Shanahan has had an extensive and esteemed career and is a remarkable fit for this current role, having had an exceptional legal career across Australia over a number of decades.
“He was admitted to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in 1984, to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989 and the High Court of Australia in 1990, and he was appointed Senior Counsel in 2004.
“More recently, Mr Shanahan was Acting Commissioner of the Corruption and Crime Commission of Western Australia and a Senior Sessional Member of the State Administrative Appeal Tribunal.
“Judge Cuthbertson has similarly had a storied career, acting as a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia since August 2024.
“Up until then, she was Barrister at Law, then Senior Counsel (2022), with Malthouse Chambers for 14 years and Head of Chambers from 2014. She was a barrister and solicitor with the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania for 10 years before that. Judge Cuthbertson was admitted in 1999.
“These appointments ensure the Supreme Court returns to a full complement of Judges and fills the vacancies created by the retirement of Chief Justice Alan Blow AO and the resignation of former puisne judge Gregory Geason.”
The Attorney-General thanked Justice Blow for his “immense contribution to Tasmania” in serving as Chief Justice from 2013, and as a Supreme Court since 2000.
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Originally published as Former crime and corruption commissioner to replace retiring Tasmanian Chief Justice
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