Queensland Law Society has welcomed the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman’s announcement of the appointment of two new Queensland Supreme Court Judges Declan Kelly QC and Kerri Mellifont QC.
Queensland Law Society President Elizabeth Shearer congratulated the two new judges on their appointments.
“These leading Queensland QC’s are both well respected and well qualified for appointment to the Supreme Court of Queensland,” Ms Shearer said.
“They each bring different experience – with Mr Kelly QC having a substantial commercial practice and Dr Mellifont QC having a substantial criminal, regulatory and administrative law practice.
“They have each contributed generously to the legal profession, holding positions of leadership and responsibility at the Queensland Bar,” Ms Shearer said.
Announcing the appointments of the senior barristers to the court’s Trial Division, Minister Fentiman said:
“Justice Kelly and Justice Mellifont have each gained broad legal expertise in the decades since their respective admissions as barristers, and are highly respected among their peers,” Minister Fentiman said.
“The breadth of the knowledge and experience they have gained from handling high-profile and complex matters in various jurisdictions make them valuable assets to the Supreme Court in helping deliver justice for Queenslanders.”
The appointees were shortlisted by the Judicial Appointments Advisory Panel. Justice Kelly will commence on 6 September 2021 and Justice Mellifont will commence on 4 October 2021.