The Honourable Peter Johnstone

Biography

Peter Johnstone has been appointed an Adjunct Professor in the School of Law at the University of New England, Armidale, specialising in Children’s Law.  Peter was born in Armidale where he grew up and went to school, attending the Armidale Demonstration School (primary) and The Armidale School (secondary), where he attained the Higher School Certificate (1967) and was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship.  He then spent a year in Argentina at the Colegio Nacional, San Carlos de Bariloche (secondary), where he attained the Argentine Bachillerato (1968).

Peter returned to Australia where he attended the Law School at the University of Sydney (1969 - 1972) and attained a Bachelor of Laws Degree (LLB). He then spent over 50 years working in legally related occupations.  Having served Articles of Clerkship at the law firm Ashurst (then known as Blake Dawson Waldron), he was admitted as a solicitor in 1973 and practised for over 33 years at that firm.  He was then appointed a Judge of the District Court of NSW in 2006 and spent the next 18 years serving in that role until his compulsory retirement in 2024 (age 75).

Career highlights as a solicitor included serving in various management roles at Ashurst, including the roles of Staff Partner, Sydney Managing Partner, Melbourne Managing Partner, then National Chief Operating Partner before his appointment to the bench.  He played an active role in the Law Society of NSW where he was an elected councillor for 5 years, becoming President-Elect in 2006.

As a judge, Peter served as President of the Children’s Court of NSW for nine years
(2012 - 2021), and as Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW for 3 years (2021 - 2024).  

During his tenure as President of the Children’s Court, Peter was concerned to promote and expand community services and resources to assist disadvantaged families and children at risk, across all of NSW, in particular in respect of mental health issues, family violence, drug and alcohol dependence, and homelessness.  He was keenly involved in addressing youth issues relating to children such as the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children and young people in the youth justice and care and protection systems.   He has also advocated for prevention, early intervention, diversion and rehabilitation of children and young persons involved in the justice system, including the use of detention only as a last resort, increased use of the Young Offenders Act, reducing the incidence of short-term remand, and greater attention to children not attending school.  He oversaw the establishment of the Youth Koori Court in 2015, which now operates at Parramatta, Surry Hills and Dubbo.