Justice Judy Hughes
President, South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT)
Born and raised in Adelaide and graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1991 with an Honours degree in Law and a Bachelor of Arts specialising in philosophy and politics.
Associate to Hon Justices Michael White and Howard Zelling
Her early career was spent working in private legal practice at Stanley and Partners.
Started in the Crown Solicitor’s Office in 1993. Worked in workers compensation, and then opinion work specialising in statutory interpretation and administrative law litigation.
From 1998 to 2006 she did a number of legal policy roles including executive adviser to the CE of Environment and Heritage, and Deputy Commissioner of Consumer Affairs.
In 2006, returned to the CSO as an Executive Solicitor managing a team of lawyers in the areas of State taxes, freedom of information, and judicial review of administrative decisions.
In 2013, she was promoted to lead the Public Law Section with over 70 staff while Greg Parker (as he then was) was Crown Solicitor. This role involved work more internal to Government and included advising the Attorney-General on the powers of Parliamentary Committees, establishing Royal Commissions, advising the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment on the employment of senior executives in Government and the establishment of new Government structures such as public corporations.
Appointed Crown Solicitor in April 2017 following a 5 month period of acting in the role, overseeing an office of 280 staff, before being appointed to the Supreme Court and as President of SACAT in July 2017.
As President, she hears complex and appellate matters in the Tribunal’s ever-increasing jurisdiction.