Justice Muller has been described as having an “encyclopedic knowledge” of the law. Photo: Claire Sams.
One of Canberra’s newest judges has been praised for his compassion, “measured approach” to the law and “fostering the next generation” of lawyers.
During his swearing-in on Friday (24 April), the ACT’s latest Supreme Court justice, Andrew Muller SC, said this month’s Anzac Day commemorations had brought to mind sacrifice.
“It calls for courage,” he said of his position.
“The courage required of a judge is fundamentally different from that of those who have served in the theatre of war, but it is no less real.”
Justice Muller’s legal career started when he graduated from Macquarie University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics.
He was admitted to legal practice later that year.
He has been an Acting Judge of the ACT Supreme Court since April 2025.
ACT Attorney General Tara Cheyne told those gathered during the ceremony that the Territory’s legal field has shown its “collective pride and confidence” around his appointment to the Supreme Court.
She said that this “persistent testimony [is the] most reliable character reference there is” and described him as a “Canberra success story”.
She said he has built an “extensive and impressive” legal career, working across civil litigation and spending more than a decade as managing partner of a legal firm.
He was called to the Bar in 2011 and became Senior Counsel in October 2023.
Ms Cheyne further praised the “steadiness and professionalism” he displayed during his tenure as the ACT Bar Association’s president, as well as his commitment to mentoring younger and early-career lawyers.
Current president of the ACT Bar Association, Prue Bindon, told the gathered lawyers and supporters that she remembered his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She described his “kind and respectful leadership style and your particular capacity to make people feel heard” as key to building camaraderie across the legal community.
“Today we celebrate your appointment as a judge … Your compassion will ensure that justice remains human and your measured approach will maintain the dignity and fairness on which public confidence depends.”
Ms Bindon told those gathered that he had built a reputation as a “clever, kind, pragmatic” man and colleague.
“[Your appointment] is not merely to fill a vacancy,” she said.
“It is an important institutional measure, in a broader sense, because it will support and buttress the purposeful direction of the court.”
ACT Law Society President Vik Sundar also echoed Justice Muller’s intelligence.
He said he had balanced an “encyclopedic knowledge” with kindness.
“In many ways, you were our original AI … [But you] could always be available for a coffee,” he said.
Mr Sundar also noted his other interests, which include cars, horse racing and colonial history.
On Friday, Justice Muller thanked his past colleagues for their support and dedication.
“If the last 10 months have felt like the trial separation, then this is the divorce,” he said.
“It seems like an amicable one [between us]. … I will continue to watch the progress of your careers with great interest, albeit at a bit of a greater distance.”
His fellow justices, he added, had shown a “willingness to adopt [him] as one of their own” and extended his appreciation for retiring Justice Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson’s “excellent nose” in finding associates.
Justice Muller also thanked his family, noting that they were gathered in person or watching an online livestream of the ceremony.
“I cherish all of you … All of you, in your different ways, are inspirations to me.”
Fellow Supreme Court judge Louise Taylor, who is the first Indigenous Australian woman to be appointed to a superior court, was also recently appointed as the ACT’s new chief magistrate.
Original Article published by Claire Sams on Region Canberra.
