Associate judges are appointed by the Governor of Victoria and exercise judicial powers in civil matters as specified under the Supreme Court Rules. As judicial officers, associate judges have the authority to hear and determine certain civil matters and make decisions on applications to appeal from lower courts.
In some civil disputes, associate judges conduct judicial mediations to resolve the matter, or to assist parties with narrowing issues in contention before trial.
Associate judges also preside over trial proceedings, both within their original jurisdiction, and as referred by judges of the Trial Division. This empowers associate judges to hear complex matters outside of their original jurisdiction and enables the Court to hear urgent or unexpected applications that arise prior to trial.
In getting matters ready for trial, hearing interlocutory disputes, and resolving matters through mediation, associate judges play an important role in the expeditious resolution of matters and saving of Court costs for parties to proceedings.
Below is a list of current associate judges.
| Associate judges | Period of office |
|---|---|
| The Hon. Melissa Lee Daly | 10 October 2006 - |
| The Hon. Simon Peter Gardiner | 6 November 2008 - |
| The Hon. Mary-Jane Ierodiaconou | 12 May 2015 - |
| The Hon. Julian Michel Kalman Hetyey | (2014*) 11 February 2020 - |
| The Hon. Ian Irving | (2016*) 27 July 2021 - |
| The Hon. Fiona June Steffensen | (2020*) 12 April 2022 - |
| The Hon. Matthew Pierre Barrett | 21 June 2022 - |
| The Hon. Catherine Flavia Gobbo | 15 August 2023 - |
| The Hon. Caroline Anne Goulden | 02 November 2023 - |
* Date appointed as Judicial Registrar
| Reserve associate judge | Period of office |
|---|---|
| Mark Derham | 10 January 2020 - 10 January 2025 |
| The Hon. Alexander Jamie Wood | 26 June 2021 - |
| The Hon. John Efthim | 9 April 2022 - |
For more information, visit the associate judges of the Supreme Court page.