The Chief Justice ensures the ‘orderly and expeditious discharge of the business of the Court’ (s 21B Family Law Act 1975) and manages its administrative affairs (s 38A). The Chief Justice hears first instance cases and is a judge of the Appeal Division of the Court.
To ensure the best outcomes for disputing families, the Chief Justice is responsible for implementing world best-practice court services and procedures that provide high-level support for judicial officers and staff.
The Chief Justice is assisted in judicial responsibilities by the Deputy Chief Justice and has a number of judicial committees to advise her. She is assisted in administrative responsibilities by the Chief Executive Officer.
Currently the Chief Justice’s chambers are in the Melbourne Registry.
The Honourable Diana Bryant AO
Chief Justice Bryant was appointed as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia on 5 July 2004. She had previously been the inaugural Chief Federal Magistrate overseeing the establishment of the Federal Magistrates Court, a position which she held for four years.
At the time of her appointment as Chief Federal Magistrate, Chief Justice Bryant had been practising at the Victorian Bar for ten years. She specialised in family law and defacto property disputes, particularly at appellate level, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997.
Her Honour attended Melbourne University and was admitted to practise in Victoria in 1970 where she practised for several years. She then moved to Western Australia and was a partner with the firm of Lavan & Walsh (which became Phillips Fox) in Perth. She practised as a solicitor and counsel specialising in family law.
Chief Justice Bryant holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degree. During her period in practice prior to her appointment to the Bench, Chief Justice Bryant served on many law societies and bar committees as well as being a board member of Legal Aid both in Western Australia and Victoria. While in Western Australia, Chief Justice Bryant was a board member of Royal Perth Hospital and a director of Australian Airlines. She received a Centenary Award in 2001 and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for her distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law.