The chief justice of Victoria is the senior judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria and the highest ranking judicial officer in the Australian state of Victoria. The chief justice is both the judicial head of the Supreme Court as well as the administrative head. They are responsible for arranging the business of the court and establishing its rules and procedures.
The current chief justice is Richard Niall, who was appointed by Governor Margaret Gardner to succeed Anne Ferguson. Niall's term began on 3 February 2025.
List of chief justices of Victoria No. Image Chief justice Term began Term ended Time in of office Governor appointed Notes1 19 January 1852 20 February 1857 Charles La Trobe2 25 February 1857 24 September 1886 Henry Barkly3 24 September 1886 31 December 1892 Henry Loch4 9 January 1893 10 March 1918 John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun5 9 April 1918 30 September 1935 Arthur Stanley6 1 October 1935 31 January 1944 William Vanneck, 5th Baron Huntingfield7 2 February 1944 1 September 1964 Winston Dugan8 2 September 1964 31 May 1974 Rohan Delacombe9 1 June 1974 16 December 1991 Henry Winneke10 17 December 1991 17 October 2003 Davis McCaughey11 26 November 2003 1 October 2017 John Landy12 2 October 2017 2 February 2025 Linda Dessau 13 3 February 2025 Margaret Gardner
See also
Judiciary of Australia Supreme Court of Victoria
References