Legal profession gathers to farewell Chief Judge at Common Law

The Chief Justice of NSW, the Honourable Andrew Bell, welcomed and acknowledged the presence of Justice Harrison’s family, and close friends, including the Hon. David Davies SC and the Hon. Phillip Hallen SC, who were also in attendance.  

Bell acknowledged the wealth of experience that Harrison brought to the bench and pointed out that as President of the NSW Bar Association and President of the Australian Bar Association; Harrison had occupied the most senior positions at the Bar. “Of course, one doesn’t just get elected or appointed to those positions. They are invariably the product of many, many years of service on the Bar Council and the many important committees of the Bar Association …,” he said. 

The Chief Justice noted such contributions are vital to the presence of a “dynamic and committed Bar which is itself so important in the administration of justice in New South Wales.” 

As a judge of appeal and Chief Judge at Common Law, Harrison determined several well-known cases. Bell referred to the trial of Christopher Dawson and said he regarded the live streaming of the long verdict as an “important and significant event in the Court’s history.” 

In a case that drew significant attention, Bell pointed out the public was able to witness the process. “This was a real time demonstration to the public of what judges do every day of the week and I think contributed in a significant way to the public’s understanding of what is involved in a judge’s work, how difficult it is and how carefully and conscientiously it is undertaken,” Bell said. 

In his speech, Harrison thanked his family and friends. He recounted his days at the Bar and his fortune to have been regularly briefed by a number of “clever and thoughtful solicitors whose invariable attention to detail made the job so much easier. 

“The few successes that one has as a barrister are invariably the result of the hard yards put in before the brief arrives. I wish to thank all the women and men who briefed me over those years for that support,” Harrison said.  

Harrison acknowledged that from sitting on the court, he has been “very pleased” to perceive the gender and cultural diversity in the legal profession is now “so much more representative of Australian society than it was in 1975.”  

Harrison has been appointed an acting judge and acting judge of appeal from 2 February 2026. 

Justice Natalie Adams will assume the role of Judge of Appeal and Chief Judge of Common Law in February 2026.