2023-04-03
Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury has today announced the appointment of Verity McWilliam as the new Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.
Attorney-General Rattenbury was pleased to appoint Verity McWilliam as a resident judge of the ACT Supreme Court. He said her experience in her current role as Associate Judge, along with her lengthy legal career of more than 20 years in the private and public sectors as well as in academia means she is well equipped for this new role.
“Associate Justice McWilliam’s appointment as a Resident Judge seems a natural next step for the judicial officer. Her expertise will be invaluable to the Court and for the administration of justice in the ACT,” the Attorney-General said.
Her Honour was appointed to the ACT Supreme Court as Associate Justice 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 University of New South Wales in public and constitutional law.
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum welcomed the appointment saying Associate Justice McWilliam is a highly respected jurist who brings a unique breadth of experience to her role.
“Her fairness, humanity and good judgement 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 is delighted to accept the position and looks forward to continuing to serve the people of the ACT. As a graduate of the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Laws in 2000, she is proud to serve in her hometown of Canberra.
It is expected that Her Honour will 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 Kennett when he was appointed to the Federal Court in February this year.