Chief Justice Peter Quinlan has emphasised the central role of the courts and legal profession in upholding the rule of law and maintaining public confidence in the justice system at the ceremonial Opening of the Legal Year for 2026.
The Supreme Court of Western Australia marked the opening of the legal year with a formal sitting attended by members of the judiciary and legal profession from across the State. Attorney General the Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA, Law Society of Western Australia President Judy McLean and WA Bar Association President Julie Taylor SC also addressed the Court.
A renewed ceremony for contemporary challenges
Chief Justice Quinlan said the decision to reintroduce a ceremonial sitting to mark the Opening of the Legal Year reflected both longstanding legal tradition and the need to respond to contemporary challenges.
“The decision to reintroduce a ceremonial sitting of the Court to mark the Opening of the Legal Year is one born both of fidelity to the traditions of the past, and, perhaps more urgently, to address the challenge of our present age,” he said.
While the ceremony has historical roots in religious observances in England and Wales, he noted that Western Australia’s approach reflects the pluralistic nature of the State and the profession. Rather than a religious observance, the ceremony provides an opportunity for reflection by courts and practitioners on the administration of justice and the responsibilities shared by all who serve it.
Chief Justice Quinlan pointed to increasing social polarisation and the impact of online discourse as among the challenges facing modern civic culture. In that context, he said the courts and legal profession have a critical role in modelling the values that underpin the rule of law.
“At such a time, the courts and the legal profession have a vital role to play,” he said.
“Adherence to the rule of law not only provides the bedrock of stability for our society as a whole, the commitment of the courts and broader profession to the values inherent in the rule of law can provide a model for the culture at large.”
He identified reason, honesty and civility as core professional values, alongside independence and impartiality, and stressed that all courts and legal workplaces must be places where members of the community can expect equality of treatment regardless of background or circumstances.
Court performance and workload
In reviewing the Court’s work over the past year, Chief Justice Quinlan acknowledged the contribution of judicial officers, registrars, registry staff and the profession more broadly to the administration of justice.
He highlighted the work of registry staff and registrars in finalising 9,670 probate and letters of administration applications in 2025, with 91.3 per cent completed within six weeks of lodgement and 70 per cent within one week.
“That remarkable achievement … is due entirely to the registry staff and the registrars of the Court,” he said.
Registrars also conducted 1,154 civil hearings, including 444 mediation conferences.
Judges of the General Division sat in 54 civil trials over 198 sitting days and conducted 1,780 additional civil hearings in 2025, representing a 20.9 per cent increase on the previous year.
Reform and improvement priorities
Chief Justice Quinlan acknowledged ongoing pressures on the justice system, including accommodation constraints and the need for investment in information technology.
“The impact of delay and cost on all users of the justice system must not be underestimated and must be continuously addressed,” he said.
Over the coming year, the Supreme Court will undertake a wide-ranging review of its civil practice and case management processes. A reference group chaired by Principal Registrar Griffin will be established to identify practical measures to improve efficiency and timeliness.
Chief Justice Quinlan concluded by acknowledging the collective efforts of the courts, the profession and court staff in maintaining confidence in the administration of justice and delivering timely and accessible justice for the community.
Law Society President outlines 2026 priorities
Law Society President Judy McLean also addressed the Court, setting out key priorities for the profession in 2026, including juvenile justice, access to justice, cultural safety, practitioner wellbeing and professional conduct.
Ms McLean said juvenile justice would be a particular focus for the Law Society in 2026, emphasising the need for evidence-based responses that support early intervention and address underlying causes of offending.
“The way our legal system responds to children and young people calls for careful, evidence-based consideration,” she said. “Early contact with the law should not entrench disadvantage, but create opportunities for timely intervention, accountability and support.”
She noted that therapeutic, problem-solving and diversionary approaches, applied with appropriate judicial oversight and professional judgement, can improve engagement and support safer communities over time. The Law Society will continue to work with the Law Council of Australia and other law societies nationally to support effective responses in this area.
Ms McLean reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to access to justice, highlighting the essential role of community legal services.
“Community legal services underpin access to justice for many Australians and make legal rights real in practice, not merely asserted in principle,” she said.
However, she observed that many services continue to operate with limited and uncertain funding, often turning away people in need. She said the Law Society would continue to advocate for sustainable and reliable resourcing for frontline legal assistance services.
Cultural safety, wellbeing and professional standards
Ms McLean identified cultural safety within the legal system as a further priority, noting that justice must be experienced as fair by all who encounter it.
“Justice must be experienced as fair by all who encounter it, particularly First Nations peoples and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds,” she said.
“The Law Society is committed to prioritising cultural safety through leadership, education and meaningful engagement across the profession.”
She also acknowledged the pressures facing practitioners across the profession and stressed the importance of supporting practitioner wellbeing.
“Wellbeing is essential to the sustainability of the profession,” she said, adding that the Law Society would continue to work with the profession to support resilience, collegiality and long-term professional sustainability.
Ms McLean highlighted the importance of professional conduct and court etiquette in maintaining public confidence in the justice system.
“Court etiquette and professional conduct are not matters of form alone; they underpin trust in the legal system and its institutions,” she said. “Courtesy, preparedness and civility in court are practical expressions of our role as officers of the Court.”
She concluded by encouraging the profession to continue to uphold the law with integrity, independence and compassion throughout the year ahead.
