The Deputy Chief Justice assists the Chief Justice in the judicial administration of the Federal Circuit and Family Court. Particular responsibilities include case management, complaints about judges, the collection and strategic assessment of statistics, pastoral care and oversight of the Court’s committees.
In the absence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Chief Justice performs and exercises the powers of the Chief Justice (s 24).
The Honourable Robert McClelland AO
The Deputy Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia is the Honourable Justice Robert McClelland.
Deputy Chief Justice McClelland was appointed as a judge of the then Family Court in June 2015. His Honour has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Laws. He was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a solicitor in 1982 and signed the bar roll in 2011.
Deputy Chief Justice McClelland was elected as the Federal Member for Barton in 1996 and served as Commonwealth Attorney-General from 2007 to 2011 and Vice President of the Executive Council from 2010 to 2012.
Deputy Chief Justice McClelland was appointed on 10 December 2018 and presides in Sydney.
