After serving as South Australia’s top judge for over a decade, the Honourable Chief Justice Chris Kourakis SC has announced his retirement.
South Australia’s Chief Justice, the Honourable Chris Kourakis SC, has announced he will step down from the state’s highest judicial office, with his resignation set to take effect on 19 February 2026.
After more than a decade at the helm of the state’s judiciary, Justice Kourakis said he believed it was “an appropriate time” to retire, marking the conclusion of a distinguished chapter in South Australia’s legal history.
Justice Kourakis began his legal career more than 40 years ago, graduating from the University of Adelaide with a bachelor of laws in 1981. He was admitted to practice in 1982, called to the Bar in 1987, and appointed senior counsel in 1997, building a reputation as one of the state’s leading legal minds.
His judicial career progressed with his appointment to the Supreme Court in 2008, before he was appointed South Australia’s ninth Chief Justice in 2012, a role he has held for 13 years.
Beyond the bench, Justice Kourakis has served the profession in several senior leadership roles, including as commissioner of the Legal Services Commission, president of the Law Society, and South Australia’s solicitor-general, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to both the law and public service.
Reflecting on his time as South Australia’s top judge, Justice Kourakis paid tribute to his judicial colleagues and court staff, acknowledging their dedication and professionalism in supporting the administration of justice.
“I express my deep gratitude to those judicial officers of this state who, through their diligent and conscientious commitment to the administration of justice, have lightened my burden,” Justice Kourakis said.
“I also thank the executive leadership and all other staff of the Courts Administration Authority for their dedicated and exemplary support of the judiciary and their service to our community.”
Throughout his career, Chief Justice Kourakis has been a vocal advocate for professional leadership and the legal profession’s obligations to the community, regularly engaging with practitioners on access to justice, judicial independence, court infrastructure and practitioner safety.
He has also been a strong champion of diversity and inclusion, establishing the “Step Up to the Bar” program to support female practitioners at the independent Bar and overseeing the first appointments of First Nations Australians to the Magistrates Court, a historic milestone for the state’s justice system.
Law Society president Marissa Mackie praised Justice Kourakis for presiding with integrity, fairness, and unwavering commitment to the rule of law, crediting him with leaving behind a more transparent and participatory justice system shaped by both formidable legal intellect and deep empathy for court users.
“As a judicial officer, His Honour has presided over matters with integrity, fairness and an unwavering fidelity to the rule of law,” Mackie said.
“A healthier, more transparent and participatory relationship between the public and justice system will be a defining legacy of His Honour’s tenure.”
“In addition to his powerful intellect and deep understanding of the law and jurisprudence, His Honour has also demonstrated an acute understanding of the significantly challenging circumstances faced by court users.”
Mackie added: “The example set by His Honour serves as a reminder that, in an adversarial system where hard evidence is tested by impartial judges or a panel of strangers, the court process impacts real people in profound ways, and there is still room for compassion and humanity while remaining faithful to the principle of objectivity that underpins the rule of law.”
