Chief Justice steps down after 13 years of dedicated leadership
16 December 2025
The Law Society congratulates The Honourable Chief Justice Chris Kourakis SC on his exemplary leadership over the past 13 years as Chief Justice of South Australia and his distinguished legal career of more than 40 years.
His Honour publicly announced his resignation as Chief Justice on Tuesday (16 December), with his resignation to take effect from 19 February 2026.
Law Society President Marissa Mackie said Chief Justice Kourakis, the only former SA Law Society President to have held the role of Chief Justice, has been a principled and consummate jurist and administrator.
“As a judicial officer, His Honour has presided over matters with integrity, fairness and an unwavering fidelity to the rule of law,” Ms 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.”
“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.”
Chief Justice Kourakis has been vocal about the importance of lawyers showing leadership and honouring their obligations to the community.
“On many occasions, His Honour has given his time to speak to practitioners about their critical role in facilitating access to justice among the community, and their core obligations to the administration of justice and to the people they serve,” Ms Mackie said.
The Chief Justice has also been outspoken on important issues affecting the justice system. His Honour has spoken out about unfair attacks on the independence of the judiciary, the need for greater investment in court facilities, and, most recently, safety concerns for practitioners and members of the public crossing Gouger St between the Sir Samuel Way and Supreme Court buildings.
His Honour was the driving force behind the implementation of the Electronic Courts Management System, one of Australia’s most technologically advanced electronic court management systems.
Amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the growing use of artificial intelligence in legal proceedings, these upgrades have enabled His Honour to actively lead the state’s legal body and the community at large in navigating the challenges and outlining a clearer path for resolving matters more efficiently.
Under His Honour’s stewardship, the Courts have seen the first appointments of First Nations Australians to the Magistrates Court, a historic moment for the justice system in SA.
He has been a champion of diversity in the profession, establishing the “Step Up to the Bar” program to bridge the gender divide at the Independent Bar. This initiative has enabled female practitioners to gain invaluable experience within the Chambers of the Supreme Court and make the move to the Bar.
Ms Mackie was honoured to be the third participant of this program. “The mentoring, support, and encouragement I received from the Chief Justice both during the program and following, have been invaluable in my career,” she said.
His Honour has also shown strong leadership in addressing harassment, bullying and discrimination in the legal profession, having established the Administration Authority’s Respectful Relationships working group in the wake of an inquiry into workplace mistreatment in the profession. In 2022, His Honour oversaw the CAA’s adoption of the Judicial Officer Appropriate Workplace Conduct Policy. His Honour has also supported training for judicial officers in relation to presiding over matters involving allegations of domestic, sexual and family violence.
The Chief Justice has been committed to addressing the significant threats and challenges presented by artificial intelligence, and has led the development of the soon-to-be-released guidelines for AI use in the courts, which promise to be among the most comprehensive in the country.
“The Chief Justice has astutely recognised the potential benefits of AI and the reality of its rising use, and has crafted guidelines that emphasise the need for practitioners to honour their obligations to make honest and accurate representations to the court and their clients, while encouraging practitioners to examine the facility of AI tools in enhancing access to justice,” Ms Mackie said.
“This progressive approach to seeking improvements to the justice system has been a trademark of His Honour’s role as head of the Courts Administration Authority”.
Chief Justice Kourakis: a career overview
Chief Justice Kourakis grew up in Pt Lincoln as the son of Greek migrants.
He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1981 and was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of South Australia in the following year.
His Honour took articles with Johnston Withers McCusker, before working for several years at the Legal Services Commission. He then joined Zacharoyannis Luppino and Eckermann, being named as Partner in 1989.
From 1990 - 2003, His Honour practised as a Barrister from Edmund Barton Chambers, during which time he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. He also served as Legal Services Commissioner during this time from 1993-97.
In 1997, His Honour was appointed Senior Counsel.
His Honour was appointed as the state’s Solicitor-General in 2003 – a position he served in for five and a half years.
In 2008, His Honour was appointed to the Supreme Court, before being elevated to the Chief Justice in 2012, succeeding the Honourable John Doyle AC QC. During his tenure as Chief Justice, he has overseen sweeping changes inside and outside the courtroom that affect legal practice and the administration of justice.
Justice Kourakis first joined as a Member of the Law Society in 1982, and has gone on to contribute significantly to the Society and the profession at large. His Honour was first elected to the Law Society’s Council in 1993 and then to Executive in 1998, serving until his 2003 appointment as Solicitor-General. For 1999-2000 and 2000-01, he served as Society’s Vice-President and President-Elect, respectively, before serving as President in 2001-02.
Further contributions at the Law Society include his involvement in several committees, having served on the Criminal Law, Advocacy, Professional Standards, Council Disciplinary, Accident Compensation, Continuing Legal Education, and Practical Legal Training Advisory Committees.
His Honour’s commitment to jurisprudence and the future of legal education and the justice system has likewise between reflected in his involvement on the Committee on Law of Disclosure in Criminal Matters, the Legal Practitioners Education and Admission Council, the South Australian Law Reform Institute Advisory Board, and the Adelaide Law School Advisory Board. Since 2014, he has served as the National Patron of the Hellenic Lawyers Association, and from 2014 to 2018, served as Chairperson of the Judicial Council on Cultural Diversity.
His Honour’s contribution to the law was recognised with his conferral of a Doctor of Laws honoris causa by Flinders University in 2015.
In 2020, he was appointed Chair of the National Judicial College of Australia, and was subsequently awarded with life membership with the College.
Marissa Mackie
President
Law Society of South Australia