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 adjudication, adjudicates legal disputes/disagreements and interprets, defends, and app ...

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 aro ...

. 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 states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

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 Electoral district of Northern Territory, Northern Ter ...

1911–1912 *The Hon. David John Davies Bevan 1912–1920 *The Hon. Donald Arthur Roberts 1921–1928 *The Hon.

Ross Ibbotson Dalton Mallam Ross Ibbotson Dalton Mallam (1878 – 26 May 1954), invariably known as R. I. D. Mallam or Justice Mallam, was a judge of the Northern Territory Supreme Court. History Mallam was born in Kensington, London, and in 1902 emigrated to Adelaide, Sou ...

1928–1933 *The Hon.

Thomas Alexander Wells Thomas Alexander Wells (13 September 1954) was a judge of the Northern Territory Supreme Court in Darwin, Australia. He was known for having misdirected the jury in a high-profile case in 1934, which was later overturned in an appeal in the Hi ...

1933–1952 *The Hon.

Martin Chemnitz Kriewaldt Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austra ...

1952–1960 *The Hon.

Alan Bruce Keith Ian Bridge Alan may refer to: People *Alan (surname), an English and Turkish surname *Alan (given name), an English given name **List of people with given name Alan ''Following are people commonly referred to solely by "Alan" or by a homonymous name.'' *Al ...

1961–1966 *The Hon.

Sir Richard Arthur Blackburn Sir Richard Arthur Blackburn, (26 July 1918 – 1 October 1987) was an Australian judge, prominent legal academic and military officer. He became a judge of three courts in Australia, and eventually became chief justice of the Australian Capit ...

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 Brian Frank Martin (2 November 1936 – 24 April 2023) was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. He was appointed to that position on 26 February 1993 when the former Chief Justice Austin Asche took up appo ...

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 Trevor John Riley (born 29 January 1948) was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in Australia. He was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court on 1 February 1999, Chief Justice on 27 September 2010 and retired on 4 ...

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