The Tim Carmody Affair

In 2014 when Tim Carmody, a former police officer, was sworn in as Chief Justice of Queensland, he had been Chief Magistrate for only nine months and had never served on the Supreme Court. It was one of the most controversial judicial appointments in Australia's history. Chaos ensued. 

Appointed by then-premier Campbell Newman, Carmody lacked the experience and nous to hold Queensland's judicial system together. How could someone with a limited judicial background be appointed to such a powerful position? The Tim Carmody Affair explores his damaging and divisive tenure and the judicial rebellion that followed. It proposes ways Australia can improve the process of judicial appointments to avoid this kind of controversy again.

About the Author

Rebecca Ananian-Welsh is a lecturer at the TC Beirne School of Law, University of Queensland. She has published widely on the separation of powers in Australia, with a particular focus on controversial anti-bikie laws. She has also undertaken major research projects for the Judicial Conference on Australia and has provided media comment on matters of Queensland law and justice.

Gabrielle Appleby is an associate professor in law at the University of New South Wales, and previously worked for the Queensland Crown Solicitor and the Victorian Government Solicitor s Office. She teaches in public and constitutional law, has published widely in her field and has co-authored several books, including Australian Public Law (2014) and Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (2014). She is currently the Chief Investigator on an Australian Research Grant on the separation of powers in the States.

Andrew Lynch is a professor of law at the University of New South Wales, has written on judicial decision-making on the High Court for many years, and has recently been researching and publishing in the area of judicial appointments reform. He has co-authored several books, including Inside Australia s Anti-Terrorism Laws and Trials (2015) and What Price Security? Taking Stock of Australia s Anti-Terrorism Laws (2006), and has written extensively on the Carmody affair in the media."