Justice Timothy Ginnane will retire as a judge of the Supreme Court on 4 November 2023.
Justice Ginnane came to the Court in June 2013, after almost four years on the Bench at the County Court, including two terms at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Having spent 30 years as a barrister specialising in administrative, industrial and commercial law, his Honour later moved into the Common Law Division and served as joint-judge in charge of the Judicial Review and Appeals List, hearing cases ranging from the concerns of self-represented litigants to cases challenging major government decisions.
His Honour was interested in making the work of the Court accessible to the public both through the use of plain language and livestreaming, including in cases such as the challenge to COVID curfew restrictions.
“All the judges and officers of the Court seek to apply the law fairly and justly to whoever appears before it,” Justice Ginnane said.
“The work can be challenging and unremitting, but is rewarding as it serves an essential function in keeping our society free.”
His Honour was admitted to practice in 1977 and took Silk in 2003.
An avid supporter of the Western Bulldogs AFL club, he was integral in their survival, being part of the pro bono legal team which successfully fought off a move by the Victorian Football League to push the besieged club – then known as the Footscray Football Club – into merger in 1989.
Having been an associate to a Federal Court judge early in his career, Justice Ginnane said he had very much enjoyed being able to mentor 18 young law graduates as associates over his time on the Bench.
“Seeing the quality of the barristers, solicitors and court staff over the past 10 years has left me in no doubt that the law is in most capable hands,” he said.
“This job is never dull, always thought-provoking, and a true honour.”