Chris kourakis biography

South Australia's Chief Justice Chris Kourakis has announced his retirement after serving as the state's top judge for more than a decade.

Reflecting on his time in the role, Chief Justice Kourakis said it was "an appropriate time to retire" after 13 years in the role.

"I have been privileged to serve the people of this state as a Justice of the Supreme Court since 2008 and as Chief Justice since 2012," he said in a statement.

"All of the 13 justices now serving on the court were appointed after I first joined the court and, of those, nine were appointed in the last six years."

Chief Justice Kourakis said he had submitted his resignation to Governor Frances Adamson on November 11, with his retirement taking effect from February 19.

"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,"

he said.

Chief Justice Kourakis also thanked the executive leadership and the Courts Administration Authority for their "dedicated and exemplary support of the judiciary and their service to our community".

SA Law Society president Marissa Mackie congratulated Chief Justice Kourakis for his "exemplary leadership".

"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."

She said he had been outspoken on issues including the need for greater investment in court facilities, had championed diversity in the profession and had shown strong leadership in addressing harassment, bullying and discrimination in the profession.

Ms Mackie said he had also led the development of soon-to-be-released guidelines for the use of AI in 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," she said.

Most recently, Ms Mackie said the Chief Justice had also raised concerns about the safety of practitioners crossing Gouger Street between the Sir Samuel Way and Supreme Court buildings.

The son of Greek migrants, Chief Justice Kourakis grew up in Port Lincoln and was educated at Port Lincoln High School.

He graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1981 and was admitted to practise as a barrister and solicitor the following year.

He worked at the Legal Services Commission for many years before joining the private bar in 1989 and became the first silk in SA to take the Senior Counsel title instead of Queens Counsel.

Chief Justice Kourakis has also served in roles including president of the Law Society in 2001-02 and he was appointed as the state's Solicitor-General in 2003, providing advice to the government and its agencies.

During his time as Solicitor-General, he prosecuted the appeal on the suspended sentence given to convicted shooter Paul Nemer.

In 2004, he delivered a report which found the prosecution of Nemer was inept.

In 2008, Chief Justice Kourakis was appointed to replace Justice Bruce Debelle, who retired after 18 years on the bench.

At the time, then-attorney-general Michael Atkinson said he was pleased to make the appointment.

"We don't expect another appointment in the Supreme Court for some time to come, so it was important now to set a firm base for the Supreme Court's future and I think Chris Kourakis is recognised as the most outstanding silk in South Australia," he said.

Chief Justice Kourakis took on the state's top legal role in 2012 when former chief justice John Doyle retired.

During his time in the role, Chief Justice Kourakis has spoken out about "unacceptable" delays and sat as a magistrate in a suburban court to better understand the caseloads in those courts.

In 2019, he accused South Australia's then-attorney-general Vickie Chapman of undermining the administration of justice after two justices were not replaced when they left the bench.

Sentencing offenders

Chief Justice Kourakis has sentenced several offenders, including Luka Kageregere, who killed his wife, Malaika Mukantare, in a fire on New Year's Day in 2009, and more recently David Graham Young and Edwin James Hinrichsen for their roles in the death of Michael Purse.

He was also one of three justices of the Court of Appeal which increased Hiller triple-murderer Steven Peet's non-parole period by six years in 2018.

Chief Justice Kourakis was among the three justices who unanimously dismissed an appeal by Dudley Davey — who murdered outback nurse Gayle Woodford — to have his sentence reduced.

In March last year, he was one of the justices who dismissed Peter Rex Dansie's appeal against conviction for the murder of his wife, Helen Dansie, who drowned in a pond in Adelaide’s southern parklands in April 2017.

Last week, he heard the heavily redacted victim impact statements from the daughters of Tom Spiess, who died in a crash at the bottom of the South Eastern Freeway.

He will sentence waste company Cleanaway Operations, which was found guilty of two health and safety breaches following the crash, on a date to be set.

An announcement on who will replace Chief Justice Kourakis is yet to be made.

Adelaide Law School, University of Adelaide.
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Tuesday, 26 June 2012

Supreme Court Justice the Hon.

Chris Kourakis has become the sixth successive University of Adelaide Law graduate to be appointed Chief Justice of South Australia.

Justice Kourakis will be the ninth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, filling the vacancy created by last week's retirement of the Hon. Chief Justice John Doyle.

Justice Kourakis was educated at Port Lincoln High School and the University of Adelaide (LL B, 1981) before being admitted to legal practice in 1982.

In an era marked by rapid technological advancement, Chief Justice Kourakis demonstrated adaptability, bringing the South Australian justice system into the 21st century through the introduction of electronic case management.”

Mr Maher also praised the outgoing Chief Justice’s personal qualities, describing him as widely respected for his humility, kindness and generosity of time.

“I wish Chief Justice Kourakis all the best for a well-earned retirement,” he said.

Chief Justice Kourakis’ resignation will trigger the appointment of a new head of the Supreme Court early next year.

South Australia’s Supreme Court Chief Justice Chris Kourakis has claimed the top spot inThe Advertiser‘s 2023 Law Power rankings.

Serving as the state’s top judge for the past 14 years, Kourakis has significant influence over judicial listings, budgets, and the administration of law and lawyers in SA.

He is also the key spokesperson for the courts on justice-related matters.

Appointed to the bench in 2008 after serving as SA Government Solicitor General, Kourakis is known for his efforts to address legal misconduct, though his decisions, particularly regarding the use of the barrister postnominal “King’s Counsel,” have been controversial at times.

No doubt he will continue to explore innovations to the judicial system in this State, following the outstanding example set by former Chief Justice John Doyle AC QC. I am sure he will bring a fresh perspective and serve with great energy and distinction.

"The new Chief Justice is a much-respected member of the University of Adelaide's Law School Advisory Board and has a longstanding interest in legal education.

Justice Kourakis was President of the Law Society in 2001-02 and is a former Solicitor-General, holding that position for five years before being appointed to the Supreme Court in 2008.

Since Federation, each Chief Justice of South Australia has been a University of Adelaide Law graduate.

"It is immensely satisfying to see the new Chief Justice, Chris Kourakis QC, continuing the tradition of University of Adelaide alumni leading the Supreme Court bench since Federation (1901)," says the Dean of the University of Adelaide Law School, Professor John Williams.

"The new Chief Justice has a fine reputation as both a legal practitioner and jurist.