The Victorian Government has appointed Judge Ted Woodward to the Supreme Court of Victoria, commencing 5 June 2023.
Judge Woodward will also serve as President of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), with his five year term to start from 1 July 2023.
He was appointed as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria in 2017 and as a Vice President of VCAT in 2018. Judge Woodward has been head of the Commercial Division of the County Court since June 2020.
Prior to this he was a barrister from 1997 to 2017 practising in general commercial litigation, particularly in the areas of corporate insolvency and reconstruction.
Judge Woodward is an accredited mediator and acted in several inquests. In 2003, he assisted the coroner with investigations into the devastating Canberra bushfires and as counsel assisting the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in two of its early public hearings.
He has dedicated a significant portion of his career to ensuring improvements in the justice system through his service on the Victorian Bar Council and Ethics Committee and in leading the development of new case management and dispute resolution practices in the County Court Commercial Division.
He was appointed silk in 2010 and holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne.
Judge Woodward will replace Justice Michelle Quigley who will continue to serve as President of VCAT until 30 June 2023. Justice Quigley was appointed as the President of VCAT in April 2018 when she became the first woman to serve in the role.
During her tenure, VCAT opened three new venues at Oakleigh, Bundoora and Frankston, launched a new user-focused website and implemented the Residential Tenancies Act 2018 – the biggest change to renting laws in two decades.
President Quigley has championed upgrades to VCAT’s digital system, which will deliver a single case management system, a self-service portal for Tribunal users and end-to-end digital workflows for members and staff.
As stated by Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes
“I congratulate Judge Woodward on his appointment to the Supreme Court – he brings a wealth of knowledge, diversity of experience and a proven commitment to the justice system.”
“VCAT plays a crucial role in helping Victorians to resolve a large number of disputes every year, and I wish Judge Woodward well as he embarks on his appointment to this important tribunal.”
“I thank Justice Quigley for her five years of leadership and dedicated service as the President of VCAT and wish her well for her return to the Supreme Court.”
