Associate Judges of the Supreme Court

On this page:

• Associate Judges
• Associate Judges' Applications List
• Specialist lists
• Resources for Civil Proceedings

Associate judges hear and resolve interlocutory applications in the Common Law Division and Commercial Court that arise before and during a trial, and applications that are final in nature. 

Associate judges have the authority to hear and determine certain civil matters and make decisions on applications to appeal from lower courts. They play an essential role in:

• conducting trials, both within their original jurisdiction and as referred to them by Trial Division judges
• hearing interlocutory disputes and other applications in the Associate Judges’ Applications List
• hearing judicial review and appeal trials from lower courts, typically those that run for one or two days 
• case managing civil proceedings for trial, including pre-trial directions and applications
• judge-ordered mediation of proceedings.

Associate judges can be referred matters by Trial Division judges, empowering them to hear complex matters not within the associate judges’ original jurisdiction. This better enables the Court to hear urgent or unexpected applications that arise prior to trial, and to hear a larger number of shorter trials. 

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.

Associate Judges

The Supreme Court of Victoria has 9 associate judges and 2 reserve associate judges. 

The Honourable Associate Justice Mary-Jane Ierodiaconou is principal associate judge. For a list of current associate judges, see the judicial organisational chart.

To contact the chambers of an associate judge, access the judicial support contacts, noting the guidelines about appropriate communications with chambers contained in Practice Note SC GEN 4 Custom and Protocol.

Associate Judges’ Applications List

The Associate Judges’ Applications List hears applications in proceedings commenced by writ and originating motion. The applications heard include all interlocutory applications not dealt with in a specialist area, as well as the hearing or management of matters in the original jurisdiction of the Associate Judges.

The interlocutory disputes and applications include applications for substituted service of court process, disputes concerning the discovery or disclosure of documents, summary judgment applications, pleadings disputes, applications for security for costs, assessments of damages, registration of foreign judgments and a variety of other matters.

Read the SC Gen 22 Associate Judges’ Applications List Practice Note.

Specialist Lists

Associate judges hear interlocutory and trial matters in specialist lists in the Commercial Court and Common Law Division. Each type of civil proceeding is managed differently depending on the law that applies and the division and list that manages that type of case.

More information about the specialist lists is available on this page.

Resources for Civil Proceedings

Additional resources specifically relating to the Common Law Division or Commercial Court are available.