Top Qld barristers revealed as newest Supreme Court judges

Two top barristers, with a wealth of experience in Queensland and across the globe, have been appointed by the state government to the Supreme Court bench.

Two top barristers have been appointed to the Supreme Court bench.

The State Government has appointed two top barristers – Shane Doyle KC and Christopher Johnstone KC – to the Supreme Court bench.

They will be sworn-in as Supreme Court Justices on July 28 with the Townsville born Mr Johnstone returning next year as the Northern Judge.

Mr Doyle, who acted for the Special Purpose Liquidators of Queensland Nickel in high profile proceedings against Clive Palmer and various of his companies, has been appointed as a Justice of both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal.

An Oxford University alumni Mr Doyle spent nearly three decades building his legal expertise in commercial litigation, arbitration, appellate and corporations law in Australia, the UK and Singapore.

He took silk in 1995 and is one of Australia’s leading commercial barristers having also appeared in many Commissions of Inquiry over his career.

Mr Johnstone, who will commence as a Justice of the Supreme Court (Trial Division), practised as a solicitor early in his legal career in commercial and insolvency litigation, commercial arbitration, and general banking.

Following his admission to the Bar in 2007, he has practised primarily in commercial litigation, appearing regularly in the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales, and the High Court of Solomon Islands.

He took silk in 2024 and has also undertaken much work in the Townsville region during his service as a legal officer in the RAAF.

He was deployed on active service to the Middle East and was awarded both the Australian Defence Medal and Operational Service Medal, Greater Middle East Operation.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington congratulated the new judges.

“Mr Doyle’s and Mr Johnstone’s experience will be an asset to the judiciary and we are fortunate to have legal practitioners of such a high calibre here in Queensland,” she said.

“Both appointees are eminently qualified and experienced and will make a significant contribution to our courts.”

Ms Frecklington thanked Justice David North, as the Northern Judge in the Trial Division, who will take leave pending his retirement in March 2026, and Justice Peter Flanagan, who is retiring from the Court of Appeal on 25 July 2025.

Originally published as Top Qld barristers revealed as newest Supreme Court judges