By Karl Hoerr -
The Chief Justice of NSW Andrew Bell has been named a Companion of the Order of Australia, in the Australia Day 2026 Honours List. Bell, who has been Chief Justice since 2022, was recognised for “eminent service to the judiciary and to the law, to legal education and training, and to the arts as an administrator and benefactor”.
Bell says he is deeply honoured to receive the award. “It is a privilege to serve as Chief Justice and to lead the very fine and hard-working judiciary that we are fortunate to have in New South Wales, especially at a time when the rule of law is more important than ever.
“I have had a fortunate life and am grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to public life in Australia in the various ways that the roles of Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales permit,” he says.
Bell is also President of the Judicial Commission of NSW and was previously President of the NSW Court of Appeal. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney Law School, Fellow at the Australian Academy of Law and a former Chair and Board Member of Sculpture by the Sea.
“Chief Justice Bell has demonstrated exemplary leadership among his judicial colleagues …”
President of the Law Society of NSW Ronan MacSweeney has congratulated the Chief Justice, saying the honour was recognition of a life and career focused on vigorous defence of the rule of law. “… Chief Justice Bell has demonstrated exemplary leadership among his judicial colleagues and the entire NSW justice system.”
MacSweeney noted that in being awarded the AC, Bell joins former Chief Justices, the late Sir Laurence Street AC KCMG KStJ QC, Tom Bathurst AC KC FRSN and Murray Gleeson AC GBS KC.
He also acknowledged the “positive, constructive and open relationship” between the Supreme Court and legal profession, engendered by the Chief Justice. “This has been particularly important as lawyers grapple with the growing presence of Artificial Intelligence in legal practice, including in the courts,” he says.
Service to Indigenous youth recognised
Chief Justice Bell is among a number of NSW legal figures to be acknowledged in this year’s Australia Day Honours. Also listed is former Chief Magistrate Peter Johnstone, who becomes a Member of the Order of Australia. Johnstone has been recognised for “significant service to the law and to the judiciary, to legal standards, and to Indigenous youth”.
“It is particularly pleasing that my work on the Children’s Court has been recognised …”
Johnstone was previously President of the Children’s Court of NSW, a Judge of the District Court of NSW and Senior Vice President of the Law Society of NSW. He tells LSJ Online the AM is a great honour. “It is particularly pleasing that my work on the Children’s Court has been recognised, where the focus was directed from punishment for the sake of it, replaced by increased attention on prevention (especially school attendance), early intervention (such as the Youth Koori Court), diversion (including reforms to the Young Offenders Act), and rehabilitation generally,” he says.
Johnstone acknowledges the ongoing challenges in this area but says “things are pointing in the right direction”. He does however express disappointment at the stalling of progress in Closing the Gap targets for improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Human rights, Rugby League and church
MacSweeney has acknowledged Johnstone and other Australia Day Honours recipients from the legal community. “I congratulate former Supreme Court Justices Geoff Bellew SC, and David Kirby KC on being awarded their AMs, along with former District Court Judge Chris Robison, a former Councillor, Life Member and active Committee participant of the Law Society,” he says.
Bellew has been recognised for his significant service to the judiciary, law and legal profession, but also rugby league. He is Chair of the NRL’s Judiciary Committee and Head of Judiciary at International Rugby League and has had a long association with the sport.
The late District Court Judge Christopher Armitage has received a posthumous Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the judiciary and to the church. MacSweeney says his thoughts are with the late judge’s family.
Also awarded an AM is prominent human rights lawyer George Newhouse, CEO of the National Justice Project. Newhouse, who previously served as Mayor of Waverley, has been recognised for “significant service to the law, to the legal profession, and to the community”.
Main image, the Honorable Andrew Bell SC AC, Chief Justice of NSW. (Image, Supreme Court of NSW)
