Supreme Court Justice Walter Sofronoff announces retirement

Queensland’s two highest courts will again be led by women, with Justice Debra Mullins set to take over as president of the Court of Appeal after the shock retirement of Walter Sofronoff.

Justice Debra Mullins is set to take over as president of the Court of Appeal. Picture: Liam Kidston

The head of Queensland’s highest court has made a shock retirement announcement.

Court of Appeal president and Supreme Court Justice Sofronoff announced he will step down from the bench on Friday, following an exceptional legal career spanning decades.

He will be replaced by Justice Debra Mullins who has been a Supreme Court judge for 20 years and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in January 2020.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman paid tribute to Justice Sofronoff and his contribution to the legal profession after his shock retirement announcement made late Thursday.

He has been in the role for five years.

“A brilliant legal mind and a person of exceptional character and integrity, Justice Sofronoff has demonstrated his dedication to maintaining a strong and independent judiciary in our State,” Ms Fentiman said.

Justice Walter Sofronoff after his swearing in as president of the Court of Appeal. File picture

“I would like to thank His Honour for his service to the people of Queensland, through his outstanding contribution to our courts and in his former role as Solicitor-General.”

Ms Fentiman congratulated Justice Mullins on her new role.

“Justice Mullins has been regularly awarded and lauded for her outstanding work over a long period of time and richly deserves her appointment as president of the court of appeal,” she said.

“Her Honour was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the law and to the judiciary, to professional development and legal education, and to women in 2019.”

Her appointment comes after Justice Helen Bowskill was appointed the role of Queensland’s Chief Justice in February, following the retirement of Chief Justice Catherine Holmes. Meanwhile Justice Jean Dalton and Justice Peter Flanagan have been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Ms Fentiman said Justice Sofronoff had an “exceptional legal career”.

Graduating from the University of Queensland in 1976, Justice Sofronoff was admitted as a barrister in 1977 and began practising a year later.

He took silk in 1988 and served as president of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal from 2001 until 2005 before his appointment as Solicitor-General, which he held for almost a decade.

In 2015, Justice Sofronoff was also the Commissioner of the Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry and he led a detailed review of Queensland’s parole system in 2016.

Justice Mullins will start her role as President of the Court of Appeal on Saturday.

Justice Dalton will also begin in the Court of Appeal from Saturday and Justice Flanagan will replace Justice Hugh Fraser following his retirement in July.