Valedictory Ceremony for the Hon Justice Chesterman AO, RFD

We join to farewell from our immediate midst the Honourable Justice Chesterman at the conclusion of his most distinguished 14 year judicial career.

I welcome the Honourable the Attorney-General at this his first ceremony in that capacity in the Banco Court. The Attorney is however no stranger to this courtroom, where he was admitted in the year 2008, and which he attended on a number of occasions in his then capacity as Shadow Attorney-General.

I also welcome the Chief Judge and the Chief Magistrate, the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Judges of the District and Federal and Family Courts, magistrates, tribunal members and retired Judges.

Justice Holmes, Justice Alan Wilson and Justice North of this Court asked me to express their regret that they cannot be present this morning. All Judges of the Supreme Court would wish to be associated with my following remarks.

Justice Chesterman joined the Court in 1998 following a highly successful 30 year career at the Bar, 15 of those years as Queen’s Counsel. While on the Court, he constituted the Mental Health Court for four years, was a most respected Commercial List judge for seven years, and has served as a Judge of Appeal since the year 2008. His Honour’s talents were nevertheless not entirely lost to the Trial Division, where notably he continued to sit from time to time — very much in the interest of both Divisions of the Court.