Presidents of the AJOA

Justice Steven Moore        2024 – present

Justice Moore is a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.  He was appointed in 2018, and still serves as a judge of that Court.

The Honourable Michael Walton        2022 – 2024

Michael Walton was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2016. He retired from the bench in 2025. He is a former President of the NSW Industrial Relations Commission.

The Honourable Justice Glenn Martin AM        2020 – 2022

Justice Martin was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2007 and the Court’s Senior Judge Administrator in 2022. His Honour retired in December 2025 and continues to serve as a Reserve Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

The Honourable Justice Judith Kelly AO       2018 – 2020

Justice Kelly is a judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.  Her Honour was appointed in 2009, and still serves as a judge of that Court.

The Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones        2016 – 2018

Justice Beech-Jones was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2012. In 2021, His Honour became the Chief Judge at Common Law and a Judge of Appeal in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. In 2023, His Honour was appointed to the High Court of Australia.

The Honourable Steven Rares KC       2014 – 2016

Steven Rares was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.  He was appointed in 2006, and retired in 2023.

The Honourable Philip McMurdo KC       2012 – 2014

Philip McMurdo was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 2003, and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2015. In 2019, he became the chair of the Supreme Court of Queensland Library Committee. He retired in 2023.

The Honourable David Harper AM KC        2010 – 2012

David Harper was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1992, and was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 2009.  He retired in 2013.

The Honourable Ruth McColl AO SC        2008 – 2010

Ruth McColl was a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 2003 to 2019. From 1999 to 2001 she was President of the New South Wales Bar Association. She is the Chair of the Australian Dispute Resolution Advisory Council.

The Honourable Bruce Debelle AO KC        2006 – 2008

Bruce Debelle was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia from 1990 to 2008.  Prior to his appointment to the Court he was President of the Law Society of South Australia.

The Honourable Ronald Sackville AO KC        2004 – 2006

Ronald Sackville was a law academic before practising at the New South Wales Bar from 1985 to 1994.  He was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 to 2008.  From 2008 to 2019 he was an acting judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was Chair of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

The Honourable CSC (Simon) Sheller AO QC        2000 – 2004

Simon Sheller was a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1991 to 2005.  He died in April 2018.

The Honourable Bruce McPherson CBE        1998 – 2000

Bruce McPherson was a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland from 1982.  He was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1991 and retired in 2006.  He died in 2013.

The Honourable John Lockhart AO QC        1996 – 1998

John Lockhart was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia for 20 years, retiring in 1999.  He died in 2006.

The Honourable Ian Sheppard AO QC        1994 – 1996

Ian Sheppard was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.  He died in December 2012.