Widely respected Supreme Court Justice Laura Stein has been appointed to replace outgoing Chief Justice Chris Kourakis.

Justice Stein has an extensive legal background with more than three decades experience in the legal profession in both the public and private sector.

Prior to her appointment to the Supreme Court, Justice Stein was the Crown Solicitor responsible for the provision of legal advice to the state government and the running of the Office of the Crown Solicitor, with a staff of over 200.

Justice Stein began practising in 1991, working at Fisher Jeffries where she rose to the position of Equity Partner.

In 2001, she began work at the Crown Solicitor’s Office, where she worked as a Senior Solicitor, Executive Solicitor and Assistant Crown Solicitor, prior to her appointment as Crown Solicitor in 2020.

The following year, she was appointed to the Supreme Court.

Justice Stein’s appointment marks the first time a woman has been appointed as Chief Justice in South Australia.

As Chief Justice, she will also be the presiding member of the State Courts Administration Council, a statutory authority independent of government that is responsible for providing the administrative facilities and services necessary for the day to day management of the State courts, via the Courts Administration Authority.

Currently, Justice Stein deputises for the Chief Justice on the Council and is also a member of the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council, the Audit and Risk Management Committee of the Courts Administration Authority, the Supreme Court Workplace Conduct Committee and the Chair of the Special Classification Trial Management Committee.

Justic Stein has played a leading role in work to drive cultural change within the legal sector, following the report of the Equal Opportunity Commissioner into Bullying and Harassment in the Legal Profession. She is the Chair of the Steering Committee of the Respectful Behaviours Committee, leading representatives from across the profession in this work.

The Government has also announced that sitting Supreme Court Judge Ben Doyle has been appointed as an additional judge to the state’s Court of Appeal.

Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2024, Justice Doyle had been working in private practice, and was appointed King’s Counsel in 2020.

Both Justice Stein and Justice Doyle will commence in their new positions on February 19.

Further appointments will be made to the general division of the Supreme Court in due course.

Quotes

Attributable to Kyam Maher

Justice Stein is an exceptionally talented legal mind and her elevation to the position of Chief Justice will come as no surprise to anyone who has worked alongside her.

In addition to her immense skill as a lawyer, her work with the Crown Solicitor’s Office – including her time as Crown Solicitor – has involved an extensive level of managing staff and supporting a productive, positive workplace.

These skills will hold her in good stead as Chief Justice, and I am confident that she will continue to do exceptional work in this new position.

Justice Stein’s leadership role in building cultural change in the legal profession, following the Equal Opportunity Commissioner’s report on bullying and harassment, makes her uniquely well-placed to lift standards across the profession as Chief Justice.

I would also like to thank outgoing Chief Justice Chris Kourakis, who has served for 14 years as Chief Justice with hard work and enormous intellect.

Justice Ben Doyle is a highly regarded legal mind for his work at the bar and on the Supreme Court. He will make an excellent addition to the state’s Court of Appeal.