A ceremonial sitting of the Court of Appeal was held to mark the Honourable Justice Orr's appointment as President.
Court of Appeal President Justice Rowena Orr has outlined her commitment to intellectual rigour, serving the community, and improving the administration of justice.
President Orr’s appointment on 29 September was marked by a ceremonial sitting of the Court of Appeal on Wednesday 21 October, attended by dignitaries including High Court Justices Michelle Gorton and Simon Steward and former Chief Justice of Victoria Anne Ferguson.
President Orr is only the fourth President in the Court of Appeal’s 31-year history.
In her address in the Banco Court, President Orr said that while she intended to make her own mark on the Court of Appeal, she would do so with the same fundamental purpose as her predecessors.
“I am acutely aware of both the privilege and the responsibility that comes with serving as the President of the Court of Appeal. I don’t take this opportunity lightly,” her Honour said.
“I have been asking myself what kind of President do I want to be? And it is one with a deep commitment to intellectual rigour, to serving the Victorian community, and to improving how justice is administered in our State.”
President Orr said the variety of professional and personal backgrounds across the bench were the Court’s greatest strength.
“I see my role as very much part of a collective effort, and I look forward to listening to each of you and working with you in the coming months to find ways to improve how we operate as a court,” her Honour said.
President Orr said open communication would be a feature of her tenure, both with the profession, other jurisdictions, and the community.
“The legal fraternity are the backbone of the administration of justice in Victoria,” she said.
“In the Court of Appeal, we know we only see a small proportion of the overall number of cases being heard. We rely on the immense amount of work that has already been done by practitioners and judicial officers both in the matters that come before us, and the matters that don’t result in appeal, so I see proactive engagement with the profession and the other courts as critical to what the Court of Appeal can accomplish.
“For the judges that make up the Court of Appeal, a commitment to public service is central to what motivates us. We understand that the public’s trust in our work is not something we can take for granted and that part of our job is not just administering justice but explaining it.
“It is important to me that the work of our Court be as accessible and comprehensive as possible.
“I hope that the public can have confidence in the work we are doing and that our connection with the community can be strengthened.”
Chief Justice Richard Niall said President Orr would be a President of distinction.
“On behalf of the judges and staff of the court may I say how delighted we are that Justice Orr has been appointed to this very important role,” his Honour said.
“Since its inception in 1995, the Court of Appeal has continued the distinguished legacy of the Full Court of the Supreme Court as an appellate court of very high repute.
“The Court of Appeal has enhanced the jurisprudence of the State and the country across all the areas of its work including in both the civil and criminal jurisdictions.
“The Court of Appeal has enormously benefited from the quality of those who have held the role of President and I am confident that Justice Orr will make her own outstanding contribution.
“President Orr is a judge of the highest calibre and a person of great humanity and judgment.”