Will Alstergren

The Honourable Chief Justice
Will Alstergren
AO
5th Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office
10 December 2018[1]
Nominated byScott Morrison
Appointed byPeter Cosgrove
Preceded byJohn Pascoe
3rd Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 October 2017[1]
Nominated byMalcolm Turnbull
Appointed byPeter Cosgrove
Preceded byJohn Pascoe
Personal details
Born
Edvard William Alstergren[1]

(1962-04-12) 12 April 1962 (age 62)
NationalityAustralian
SpouseKate[2]
Children3[2]
Alma materUniversity of Melbourne
OccupationJurist; barrister

Edvard William Alstergren AO (born 12 April 1962),[1] commonly known as Will Alstergren,[3][4] is an Australian jurist who has held the positions of Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia since 10 December 2018, and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia since 13 October 2017.

Alstergren attended Geelong Grammar School, Scotch College, Melbourne[5] and Melbourne Grammar School.[6] He graduated with Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Melbourne in 1991, where he resided at Trinity College and later completed a Master of Laws in 2010.[7] He commenced practising as a barrister in Melbourne in 1991, specialising in commercial law, tax law, industrial law and family law, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2012.[8] In 2013 he was Chairman of the Victorian Bar Association, and in 2017 was the Chairman of the Australian Bar Association.[7]

On 13 October 2017, Alstergren was appointed as the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, replacing John Pascoe (who was appointed as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia). Alstergren was given a concurrent commission as a Justice of the Family Court of Australia.[9]

When Pascoe reached the statutory retirement age from the Family Court a year later, Alstergren was appointed to succeed him as Chief Justice of the Family Court, effective from 10 December 2018. He retained his appointment as Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court amongst a Government plan to merge both courts.[10] Robert McClelland was appointed as Deputy Chief Justice at the same time.[7]

Bobsleigh career

Alstergren was the captain of the Australian bobsled team in 2002.[11] His team met the International Olympic Committee qualifying standards for the 2002 Winter Olympics, but the Australian Olympic Committee used higher standards and did not send them to compete. Alstergren said "We also beat half the teams currently in Salt Lake City, but unfortunately we couldn't meet the very high standard of the AOC".[12]

Honours

In 2022, Alstergren was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, and to sport as an administrator, coach and athlete".[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Edvard Alstergren". Australian Government Directory. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b McLeod, Fiona (20 October 2017). "Welcome to Chief Justice John Pascoe AC CVO and Chief Judge William Alstergren KC" (PDF). Law Council of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  3. ^ Whitbourn, Michaela (1 October 2018). "Attorney-General under pressure over Family Court appointments". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  4. ^ "Media Release – The Hon Will Alstergren announced as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia and the Hon Robert McClelland as Deputy Chief Justice". Family Court of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. 27 September 2018. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Scotch College > Great Scot > September 2014 > What they're doing now".
  6. ^ https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6531709960789852160 [self-published source]
  7. ^ a b c Porter, Christian (27 September 2018). "Appointments of Chief Justice and Deputy Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia". Attorney-General of Australia; Minister for Industrial Relations. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  8. ^ Brandis, George (10 October 2017). "APPOINTMENTS OF NEW CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE FAMILY COURT AND CHIEF JUDGE OF THE FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT". Parliament of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  9. ^ "Appointments of new Chief Justice of the Family Court and Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court". Attorney-General for Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  10. ^ Doran, Matthew (27 September 2018). "Family Court chief justice appointed as system prepares for major shakeup". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 23 June 2019.
  11. ^ McLeod, Fiona (20 October 2017). "Welcome to Chief Justice John Pascoe AC CVO and Chief Judge William Alstergren KC" (PDF). Law Council of Australia.
  12. ^ "The Sports Factor – Amateurism in Sport". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 February 2002. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
  13. ^ "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours – the full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia
2018–present 		Incumbent
Preceded by Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia
2017–present 		Incumbent


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