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Criminal barrister first in decades to become president of Victorian Bar
A criminal barrister has become the first in a “very long time” to be appointed president of the Victorian Bar.
Naomi Neilson
Justin Hannebery KC was elected president of the Victorian Bar during a special purpose meeting after his predecessor, Justice Elizabeth Bennett, was elevated to the Federal Court of Australia.
While there have been recent past presidents with some experience in criminal law, this is the first appointment of a criminal law barrister “in a very long time”, with the last likely being Philip Cummins QC in 1986.
Hannebery said he was “grateful and honoured” to have been elected.
“I am confident that with the support of excellent staff at the Bar, the other members of the executive, and the broader Bar Council that I have great resources to draw on,” Hannebery said.
“I look forward to hearing from our members with ideas as to how we as a Bar can serve them and the broader community better.”
Hannebery has covered occupational health and safety matters, coronial inquests, Supreme Court trials, professional disciplinary tribunals, and royal commissions, including the Lawyer X inquiry.
In addition to serving on the Bar Council for 16 years, Hannebery was director of the Law Council of Australia from 2018 to 2020 and served multiple terms on the Criminal Bar Association’s committee.
Before being elected president, Hannebery served the Victorian Bar as its vice president.
In his place, Fiona Ryan SC was promoted to the role.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
