First New Judge in Seven Years

The Queensland Government has appointed leading barrister Scott McLeod KC as a Justice of the Supreme Court, the first time an additional judge has been added to the court's complement since 2018.

Mr McLeod will be sworn in at a ceremony on 13 April 2026.

The appointment follows a $2.4 million funding commitment to add two extra judges and support staff across the Supreme and District Courts, a move the government says will help clear backlogs and get victims' cases heard faster.

Who Is Scott McLeod?

Mr McLeod has spent more than three decades at the Queensland Bar, building a practice that spans public law, commercial disputes, administrative law, and industrial matters.

He studied at the University of Queensland and the University of Cambridge, where he picked up a Master of Laws with honours and a Master of Philosophy in International Relations. He earned a second Master of Laws from UQ in 1998.

A Career Rooted in Queensland Courts

Mr McLeod started out as an associate to two former Supreme Court judges, Justices McPherson and Dowsett , before moving into Queensland's Crown Law office.

He was called to the Bar in 1992 and appointed King's Counsel in 2018.

Since then, he has chaired the Bar Association of Queensland's Administrative Law Committee and served as counsel in multiple Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry.

Known for Public and Administrative Law

His practice has centred on judicial and merits reviews, statutory interpretation, and government and regulatory work. He has also handled building and construction disputes, insurance matters, lease and property cases, and questions around the validity of commercial transactions.

A Second Role on the Horizon

Mr McLeod is also set to take over as President of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal when Justice Kerri Mellifont's term ends on 31 July.

Attorney-General Backs the Pick

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said Mr McLeod's breadth of experience made him a strong addition to the bench.

"Mr McLeod is a highly skilled and well-respected advocate," Ms Frecklington said.

She said the extra Supreme Court judge, combined with a District Court appointment already in place, was delivering on the government's promise of faster access to justice for crime victims.

What It Means for the Courts

Queensland's court system has been under pressure for years, with growing caseloads and limited judicial resources stretching timelines for hearings and trials. Adding permanent positions to the bench, rather than relying on acting appointments , gives the system more consistent capacity to manage demand.

Whether two additional judges across both courts will be enough to make a meaningful dent remains to be seen, but it is the first concrete expansion in some time.