Courts, Community and Confidence: A conversation with the Chief Justice

The Honourable Chief Justice Richard Niall was appointed as the 13th Chief Justice of Victoria from 3 February 2025 following a long and distinguished career.

His Honour commenced practice in 1990. He was Associate to the Hon Justice Ryan of the Federal Court before signing the Bar Roll in 1995. His Honour was appointed silk in 2010. He was then appointed as Solicitor-General for Victoria in 2015. In 2017 his Honour was appointed as a judge of appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

The Chief Justice also serves as the Chair of the Courts Council, which is the governing body of Court Services Victoria. Courts Services Victoria is the independent statutory body providing services and facilities to Victoria’s courts, VCAT and other Victorian statutory entities.

The Chief Justice is also the chair of the Judicial College of Victoria and the Judicial Commission of Victoria.

The Chief Justice is a Senior Fellow at the University of Melbourne, teaching public law and separation of powers in the graduate program. His Honour is a Fellow of Monash University and the Australian Academy of Law, and a member of the Australian Judicial Officers Association; the Australian Association of Constitutional Law; and the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration.