Swearing-In of Justice Gotterson

W e join to welcome Justice Gotterson as the 112^th Judge to be appointed to the Supreme Court in its 150 year history.

I note with pleasure the presence of the Honourable the Attorney-General, the Presidents, Judges of the District Court, the Chief Magistrate and his colleagues, retired Judges and Tribunal members.

The President of the Court of Appeal cannot be here today. Her Honour is overseas. She asked me to record her particular regret in those circumstances. Justice Margaret McMurdo, indeed all Judges who cannot be here, particularly, as well, Justices Philip McMurdo, Applegarth and North, would wish to be associated with my following remarks, as would Chief Justice Keane, Justice Logan, Justice May, and Chief Judge Wolfe who have likewise tendered their apology.

Justice Gotterson is very well qualified for these appointments, that is, as a Judge of the Court and as a Judge of Appeal. In the latter regard, I thank you, Mr Attorney, for the timeliness of the appointment, following so shortly upon the departure from the court of Justice Chesterman.

A graduate in Commerce, and Law with honours, from the University of Queensland, Justice Gotterson practised at the bar from 1976, since 1988 in the capacity of Queen’s Counsel. He has had a distinguished bar career, including conducting a number of investigations, carried out at the instance of the executive government.

Beyond the courtroom and barristers’ chambers, His Honour has contributed substantially to professional bar affairs, serving as President not only of the Bar Association of Queensland, but also the Australian Bar Association and the Law Council of Australia.

The court has been the grateful recipient of his service, since 1993, on the Supreme Court Library Committee.

We warmly welcome our new colleague to the court, and Mrs Helen Gotterson into the court community.