Banco Court was overflowing with barristers on Wednesday as they came to witness the swearing-in of two Supreme Court Judges, but a light-hearted question was raised – which one of the highly respected silks were they there to see?
Shane Doyle KC was sworn in as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and a Judge of Appeal. Townsville-born Christopher Johnstone KC was sworn in as a Supreme Court Judge. His Honour will sit in Brisbane and on circuit in Townsville until taking up the position as the Northern Judge in March 2026 in anticipation of the retirement of Justice North.
Justice Johnstone was admitted to the bar in 2007, took silk in 2024, becoming a King’s Counsel in Queensland, and has also undertaken much work in the Townsville region as a legal officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. He is a RAAF officer and has been deployed in active service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Justice Doyle thanked family and friends.
Her Honour Chief Justice Bowskill said Justice Doyle has a “remarkable career at the bar including almost 30 years as a silk” with Attorney-General Deb Frecklington commenting that “I doubt there would be a person in legal service who doesn’t know of you such has Your Honour’s contribution been to the legal profession at large”.
His Honour has an international reputation in many areas of the law including commercial law, and practised at the London bar. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1995. Justice Doyle was also a long-time contributor to the Queensland Bar Association, serving as President in 2014-15, Vice President in 2013-14, and Chair of the Commercial Law Committee for almost 18 years.
Justice Doyle addressed the question of attendance first, saying: “There are many members of the bar here today. I will of course take complete credit for the large number of barristers here today, rather than Justice Johnstone.
“And he and I both know the truth. I have made many friends at the bar, including my former chambers.
“It is for Justice Johnstone a misfortune that he spent more than a decade in chambers with me, and took his northern appointment possibly to get away from me, only for us to end up being sworn in on the same day today and serving on the court at the same time.”
Justice Johnstone is returning to his home town.
Justice Johnstone returned friendly fire, thanking those in the room and remotely in the central and northern jurisdictions: “Your presence in such numbers is indeed humbling. I was going to say that the beauty of a shared swearing-in is that each new judge can claim the reason why the court was full, only one could do it legitimately.
“And Chief Justice, on behalf of Justice Doyle, I should thank you for listing today as a joint swearing-in to save his embarrassment. Being able to say that is an unexpected benefit of maintaining my juniority to Justice Doyle.
“Whilst I’m sure those family of mine each bearing the title of the Honourable Justice Derrington, would have come to Justice Doyle’s swearing-in anyway I do wish to acknowledge a couple of people who have attended, I think, only for me.”
Justice Johnstone being sworn in.
Justice Johnstone mentioned that his first legal studies teacher was present in the court, who introduced him to the “the concept and mystery of the common law” as well as acknowledging current legal studies students from his old The Southport School were online.
Chief Justice Bowskill also briefly entered the fray, saying: “I will join the competition and say they came for the court.”
Both judges started their careers as solicitors and were appreciative of that time as well as the connections that continued when they were admitted to the bar.
Justice Doyle and the Chief Justice.
Justice Doyle shared that he worked in a solicitor’s office for about six years, saying: “Those years were for me formative, educational, interesting and challenging. I really enjoyed my time as a solicitor … it was a wonderful time. You are exposed not just to litigation but to lots of other things which we at the bar seldom see.
“Happily, for me my relationship with the solicitors’ branch did not come to an end when I came to the bar in 1987. I have been briefed by a very wide range of firms over those years.
“Overwhelming they have in common – a dedication to hard work, the interests of their clients, their integrity, their clients and community. It is one of the great strengths of our divided profession that the branches can work so effectively together in the administration of justice.”
Justice Johnstone said the solicitors branch remained “fundamental to a functioning society”.
“I learnt much from my time as a solicitor, and at the bar. I had the benefit of working with many exceptional lawyers, who are amongst your members,” His Honour said, in response to the Queensland Law Society President Genevieve Dee’s address to the court.
“I was very much enjoyed the rare victories the Queensland Bar cricket team had over the solicitors, none of whom seemed to appreciate the inherent unevenness of the playing field that the admission of new solicitors each year visited on an ageing team from the bar.”
The QLS President had said: “Your Honours’ appointments are a fitting reflection not only of your legal acumen but of your integrity and commitment to justice – qualities that will serve this court, and the people of Queensland, with distinction.”
Justice Johnstone, who was awarded an operational service medal, also acknowledged members of the Defence Force online during the sitting and said he was proud of his service in the RAAF.
“My appointment will prevent me from undertaking certain types of work but there are other opportunities which I look forward to undertaking to continue my service with the defence force,” he said.
While Her Honour welcomed both to the court, she also thanked Justice Peter Flanagan after his recent retirement, which took effect last Friday, saying His Honour did not wish to be the centre of attention at a ceremony. Justice Doyle fills this vacancy.
The Chief Justice thanked Justice Flanaghan.
However, the Chief Justice wished to record his “enormous contribution” to the Supreme Court and “heart-felt gratitude” from colleagues. His Honour served the court for 11 years, three years as a Judge of Appeal.
“Justice Flanagan’s outstanding skill and ability as a jurist has been spoken of before when first welcomed to this court in 2014 and when sworn in as a judge of appeal in 2022. He leaves an impressive legacy of beautifully crafted judgments delivered with commendable timeliness,” she said.
“Justice Flanagan has been a paragon of judicial conduct, unfailingly polite, courteous, thoughtful and prepared. His Honour is the consummate gentleman, a man of great generosity and kindness not to mention excellent good humour.”
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