The title of Chief Justice of the Northern Territory refers to the highest

judicial The judiciary (also known as the judicial system, judicature, judicial branch, judiciative branch, and court or judiciary system) is the system of courts that adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and applies the law ...

position in the

Supreme Court of the Northern Territory The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. It is ...

. The position is currently held by Michael Grant.

History of the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory

The

was established in 1911. From 1911–1974 the Northern Territory had only one resident judge. Relief was provided by

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

judges from 1961 to 1976, and by Federal Court judges from 1976 to 1978. The

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory shares its borders with Western Aust ...

gained Self-Government in 1978 and by that time had four resident judges. The title given to the judge varied in name, as the laws concerning the position varied. In 1975 the position was renamed to Chief Judge, with Sir William Forster the only person to hold that position, from 1977–1979. Forster uniquely held 3 different titles relating to the same position, that of Senior Judge, Chief Judge and Chief Justice, when the position title was changed again in 1979. Since that time there have been 6 Chief Justices of the Court. From 1911–1974, there were eight resident judges (not including Forster).

List of resident and senior judges of the Northern Territory

*The Hon.

Samuel James Mitchell Samuel James Mitchell (11 May 1852 – 3 October 1926) was an Australian politician and judge. He was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1901 to 1910, representing the Northern Territory. He was Government Resident of the ...

1911–1912 *The Hon.

David John Davies Bevan David John Davies Bevan (11 January 1873 – 2 October 1954) was an English-born Australian judge. He was born in London in 1873 but moved to Melbourne in 1886, attending Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and the University of Melbou ...

1912–1920 *The Hon. Donald Arthur Roberts 1921–1928 *The Hon. Ross Ibbotson Dalton Mallam 1928–1933 *The Hon. Thomas Alexander Wells 1933–1952 *The Hon. Martin Chemnitz Kriewaldt 1952–1960 *The Hon. Alan Bruce Keith Ian Bridge 1961–1966 *The Hon. Sir Richard Arthur Blackburn OBE (Mil) 1966–1971 *The Hon. Sir William Edward Stanley Forster 1971–1977

List of chief judges of the Northern Territory

*The Hon. Sir William Edward Stanley Forster 1977–1979

List of chief justices of the Northern Territory

*The Hon. Sir William Edward Stanley Forster 1979–1985 *The Hon. Kevin Frederick O'Leary 1985–1987 *The Hon. Keith John Austin Asche AC 1987–1993 *The Hon. Brian Frank Martin AO MBE 1993–2003 *The Hon.

Brian Ross Martin Brian Ross Martin (born 2 September 1947) is an Australian jurist. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia before being appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 2004. He served in the Northern ...

2004–2010 *The Hon. Trevor Riley 2010–2016 *The Hon. Michael Grant AO 2016–present

References

External links

Northern Territory Government – About the Supreme Court

ABC News. {{Chief Justices of British overseas territories Lists of judges of Australian superior courts