Judges who have served on the Federal Court of Australia , are appointed in accordance with section 72 of the Constitution, which has, since the Court's inception in 1976, been for a term expiring at age 70. Judges' appointment, tenure, and remuneration.

In addition to their judicial service, six judges of the Federal Court have also been elected to the Parliament of Australia: Nigel Bowen, Bob Ellicott, Merv Everett, Tony Whitlam, John Reeves and Duncan Kerr. All were elected prior to their appointment to the bench.

Additionally, two judges of the Federal Court have served in state Parliaments: Bernard Riley, formerly of the New South Wales Legislative Council, and Howard Olney, formerly of the Western Australian Legislative Council.

Judges including Chief Justices

Position NameAppointmentcommencedAppointmentended Term CommentsNotes 20 December 1976 31 December 1990 Chief Judge in Equity of the Supreme Court (NSW) 1 January 1991 21 March 2010 Barrister (Queen's Counsel for Victoria and Tasmania) 22 March 2010 28 February 2013 Court of Appeal Judge in the Supreme Court (Qld)Appointed to the High Court 1 March 2013 6 April 2023 Previously President of the Court of Appeal (NSW)previously served as Federal Court judge 7 April 2023 Judge of the Federal Court (2013–) 1 February 1977 31 March 1985 12 February 1981 Appointed to the High Court 17 March 1982 28 February 1987 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 31 January 1989 5 August 1986 31 March 1989 Chief Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 29 February 1996 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 4 August 1986 30 June 1980 31 August 1998 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 4 August 1978 30 September 1986 31 March 1985 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 29 June 1995 7 May 1981 24 November 1977 31 July 1990 1 April 1977 26 July 1982 Appointed to the High Court 4 April 1977 31 December 1986 Appointed to the High Court 7 November 1977 14 November 1985 6 March 1978 31 July 1989 11 March 1978 30 July 2000 17 May 1978 31 August 1998 30 October 1978 11 June 1999(1935–2006) 9 December 1979 23 May 1997 11 March 1980 1 July 1990 11 February 1981 1 February 1993 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 2 March 1981 24 February 1983 25 November 1981 30 June 1984 1 November 1982 5 June 1997 11 March 1983 8 January 1995 30 March 1983 23 September 1984 Appointed to NSW Court of Appealthen to High Court 30 May 1983 11 February 2005 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (NI) 11 May 1984 2 October 2006 Chief Justice of Industrial Relations CourtJudge of the Supreme Court (NI)Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 17 May 1984 17 May 2013 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 17 May 1984 19 July 2010 Judge of Industrial Relations CourtAdditional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 27 June 1984 4 October 1987 25 March 1985 16 December 1991 3 June 1985 10 October 2000 18 June 1985 30 September 2002 15 November 1985 26 May 1987"Australia's pre-eminent constitutional law barrister", according to lawyer Louise Clegg in the AFR (2023) 29 September 1986 2 June 2011 Judge of Industrial Relations CourtAdditional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 24 November 1986 20 April 1995 Appointed to the High Court 25 November 1986 1 September 2008 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT)Appointed to Chief Justice of the High Court 18 December 1986 16 April 2001 13 August 1987 24 April 1990 2 November 1987 26 November 1998 1 February 1988 31 May 2004 15 February 1988 1 May 2006 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 21 May 1988 30 April 2003 1 December 1988 15 August 2003 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 1 February 1989 24 August 2005 1 July 1990 5 March 2002 14 August 1990 17 December 1991 1 August 1989 28 January 2003 1 July 1990 12 September 2013 17 December 1990 16 February 2009 2 December 1991 12 April 2003 30 March 1992 14 March 2005 1 January 1993 28 April 1996 Judge of Industrial Relations CourtAppointed to Court of Appeal (NSW) 1 January 1993 1 May 2005 13 December 1993 1 August 2004 28 March 1994 1 August 2011 Judge of Industrial Relations CourtAdditional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 16 May 1994 13 October 2008 4 July 1994 6 April 2001 26 July 1994 12 February 2010 29 August 1994 30 March 2009 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 19 September 1994 25 August 2008 17 October 1994 3 September 2007 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI)Appointed to the High Court 1 January 1995 7 August 2007 3 July 1995 4 July 2012 10 July 1995 9 August 2010 17 July 1995 21 November 2015 Judge of Industrial Relations Court 3 October 1995 10 September 2001 3 October 1995 21 April 2008 Judge of Industrial Relations CourtAdditional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) Judge of Industrial Relations Court Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 5 February 1996 15 May 2006 2 September 1996 24 August 2016 3 February 1997 6 March 2013 3 February 1997 4 July 2010 21 July 1997 1 July 2011 17 September 1997 28 February 2012 President of AIRC & then Fair Work Australia 15 July 1998 19 July 2008 Judge of the Court of Appeal (Vic)Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (NI)Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 14 September 1998 26 April 2018 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT)Previously a Judge of the Supreme Court (Qld). 30 September 1998 21 March 2002 2 October 1998 1 October 2005 16 October 1998 29 November 2023 Presidential member of the Administrative Appeals TribunalPreviously a judge of the Court of Appeal (Vic) 11 June 1999 22 August 2008 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 15 August 2000 15 August 2007 9 October 2000 22 March 2012 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 7 May 2001 2 June 2008 As Justice. Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT)Appointed President of the Court of Appeal (NSW)returned to court as Chief Justice 2 April 2002 15 May 2012 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 17 June 2002 25 January 2015 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (NI) 18 November 2002 10 April 2005 5 May 2003 23 March 2016 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 14 July 2003 31 August 2013 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI)Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 3 February 2004 1 November 2005 Appointed to the High Court 14 April 2005 Presidential member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal 5 May 2005 10 February 2016 24 May 2005 6 September 2010 4 August 2005 19 July 2022 30 November 2005 24 January 2007 2 February 2006 15 November 2023 Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 8 February 2006 Judge of the Papua New Guinea Supreme CourtDeputy President of the Administrative Appeals TribunalAdditional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT) 13 March 2006 15 March 2014 3 April 2006 7 May 2024 Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (NI)Additional Judge of the Supreme Court (ACT)Previously a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia 23 June 2006 8 September 2006 10 September 2016 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 11 December 2006 23 March 2018 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 20 April 2007 8 June 2015 Appointed to the High Court 27 September 2007 5 March 2026 15 October 2007 18 October 2021 15 October 2007 5 December 2021 19 November 2007 1 January 2022 8 August 2008 3 September 2008 16 October 2022 Appointed to the High Court 7 December 2009 President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2023-present)Media release: President of the Australian Law Reform Commission 20 June 2023 1 February 2010 1 April 2014 1 February 2010 24 June 2025 13 June 2011 3 August 2026 1 March 2012 18 November 2022 President of Fair Work Commission (2012-2022) 23 April 2012 1 April 2022 10 May 2012 25 February 2022 President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2012-2017)Previously member of the House of Representatives and Attorney-General 5 December 2012 1 August 2023 21 June 2013 4 July 2013 1 April 2022 12 July 2013 Appointed Chief Justice (2023–) 13 August 2013 31 August 2013 5 January 2022 9 September 2013 Judge of the Supreme Court (NI) 23 September 2013 15 April 2014 Appointed to the High Court 30 June 2014 20 April 2015 29 January 2017 Appointed to the High Court 24 August 2015 3 November 2015 Acting President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2023–) 29 February 2016 1 March 2016 6 May 2016 1 February 2017 President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2017-2022)Previously a Judge of the Supreme Court (Qld) President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2018-2023) Appointed to the High Court Previously a Judge of Supreme Court (WA) Previously a Judge of the District Court of South Australia President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2022) Previously a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court (Division 1) Previously a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory Previously a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria President of the Fair Work Commission (2023–) Previously a Judge of the Supreme Court of VictoriaPresident of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (2023–) Previously a Judge of Supreme Court (WA)

Location of current judges

Sydney

Melbourne

Brisbane

Perth

Adelaide

Hobart (24 January 2022)

See also Judiciary of Australia Federal Court Judges holding concurrent appointments in: List of judges of the Federal Court of Bankruptcy List of judges of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia List of judges of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory List of judges of the Supreme Court of Christmas Island List of judges of the Supreme Court of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands List of judges of the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island

References