Search underway for missing Queensland judge Guy Andrew

Judge who was removed from his position in Qld over “cruel” behaviour in court is missing with grave fears held for his safety.

Police are combing bushland in Brisbane’s inner west for Federal Circuit Court judge, Guy Andrew, after his car was found abandoned on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Concern is mounting for a judge believed to have gone missing in bushland in inner Brisbane after being removed from his position for “cruel” behaviour in court.

Police said they hold fears for the welfare of Guy Andrew of the Federal Circuit Court as a second night passed without him being located.

Judge Andrew was last seen at the family home in north Brisbane on Saturday night.

His car was discovered abandoned next day near the foot of Mt Coot-tha, but a search of the thickly forested reserve in the heart of the city by police, SES volunteers and the police helicopter failed to find him.

The Australian understands there is no indication that Judge Andrew, who is married with two daughters, was the victim of a crime.

However, friends and colleagues were worried for his wellbeing at the time he disappeared, saying he took scathing criticism of his conduct by the Full Court of the Family Court “extremely hard”.

Judge Andrew was transferred from Townsville to Brisbane after appeals justices slammed his handling of a family law case in which he bullied a father’s lawyers, triggering a trial.

He had been “hectoring, insulting, belittling, sarcastic and rude” towards a senior barrister and the instructing solicitor, the Full Court found in the judgment on August 28.

Other complaints had been made about his interaction with lawyers appearing before him in Townsville, sources said.

In the Full Court judgment, Judge Andrew was criticised for impugning barrister Graeme Page QC without cause, going after the silk over his appearance and stated failure to bow in court, and accusing Mr Page, without justification, of lying or providing false information.

The three-judge bench said there was no basis for Judge Andrew’s comments and his conduct “amounted to bullying”.

The Queensland police said investigations indicated that Judge Andrew left his north Brisbane address early on Sunday and drove in the direction of Mount Coot-tha, where he regularly walked in the morning.

His car was found about 2pm Sunday in Dillon Street, The Gap.

“Police and the man’s family hold concerns for his welfare,” police said in a statement.

Searchers say there is 600ha of bushland in the area being combed, with police concentrating their efforts on information about Judge Andrew’s regular walking habits.

A local woman, posting on the Queensland Police Facebook page late on Monday, said she had seen a man resembling Judge Andrew at Enoggera Reservoir. “We are praying it was him,” a family friend posted in reply.

Family lawyers have raised concern about the lack of support for judges who struggle with their role, especially in the emotionally charged family law jurisdiction. One lawyer said Judge Andrew’s disappearance highlighted that the court did not have proper management processes in place.

The Law Council of Australia, the Judicial Conference of Australia and legal academics have repeatedly called for an independent body that could handle complaints about federal judges and better manage concerns about their behaviour or capacity.

Formerly a barrister who practised in family law and crime in Brisbane, Judge Andrew was appointed to the Federal Circuit Court in March last year, the sole judge in its busy Townsville registry. He had also worked as a solicitor for Legal Aid Queensland.

Following the criticism by the appeal court, Federal Circuit Court Chief Judge Will Alstergren had said that sitting in a ­single-judge registry could “present a number of challenges” for new judges.

Judge Andrew’s elevation was welcomed at the time as important to improving access to justice in north Queensland. Despite his reputation for being tough on some lawyers appearing before him, especially junior barristers, Justice Andrew’s legal skills were well-regarded by the local bar.

One senior practitioner described him as being vibrant and hardworking.

A fit man in his late 40s, he was often seen tackling the demanding running track to the summit of Townsville’s Castle Hill.

Additional reporting: Nicola Berkovic

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Can you help? A search is currently underway to locate a man missing from the Mount Coot-tha area since yesterday. More information here: https://t.co/OKS6IV0Rqq

Anyone with information on his whereabouts or has seen him is urged to contact police. pic.twitter.com/QTbASIiDiA

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) October 5, 2020