57 Facts About Tim Carmody

Tim Carmody presided over the 2013 Child Protection Commission of Inquiry.

Tim Carmody was sworn in Chief Justice on 8 July 2014, following the elevation of his predecessor in the role, Paul de Jersey, to Governor of Queensland.

Tim Carmody remained a Judge of the Supreme Court, sitting as a supplemental member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal before resigning his commission as a judge altogether with effect from 10 September 2019.

Tim Carmody was born in 1956 in Millmerran on the Darling Downs, the second of four children.

Tim Carmody's father worked in a variety of roles, including as a seasonal meat worker, publican, bookmaker and boarding house contractor at the meatworks in Katherine, Northern Territory.

Tim Carmody's mother suffered a malignant brain tumour, which paralysed her and led to her death at the age of 38.

Tim Carmody went to a boarding school and later to Nudgee College in Brisbane, from which he dropped out in Year 10 to work as a meat worker, but later rejoined to complete his Year 12 studies.

Tim Carmody enrolled at the University of Queensland in a Bachelor of Laws degree, but dropped out after a semester.

Tim Carmody joined the Police Force in 1975, where he was stationed in Brisbane City and West End as well as serving as head of Security at Government House.

Tim Carmody resumed his study of law at the Queensland University of Technology in 1976, while working in a police office.

Tim Carmody later worked as a clerk in the Public Defender's Office, which is part of Legal Aid Queensland, while he completed his part-time Law studies.

Tim Carmody was appointed as a Judge of the Family Court in 2003.

Tim Carmody resigned from the Family Court in 2008 and returned to private practice, citing the "failure" of the new shared parental responsibility family law regime as a factor in his decision.

Tim Carmody presided over the Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry and handed down his final report on 1 July 2013.

Tim Carmody recommended that children lose the right to appeal against the sentence handed down by a magistrate, unless there was an error of law.

Tim Carmody justified this on the basis that this would save time for the Children's Court of Queensland.

Shanahan noted that Tim Carmody had failed to consult him before making the recommendation.

Tim Carmody sent a three-page email to the magistrates of Queensland, which was strongly supported by Attorney-General Bleijie, suggesting that outlaw motorcycle gang associates should not be granted bail due to the inherent risks of doing so.

In, Tim Carmody DCJ, sitting as a magistrate, construed the newly inserted s 16 of the Bail Act 1980.

On 5 November 2013, Tim Carmody issued a Practice Direction which required that all future contested bail applications be heard in a specified Brisbane Magistrates courtroom in the afternoons, with no more than two listed each day.

Tim Carmody stated that this was intended to speed up the process, reduce costs for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and ensure "security for all".

The practical effect was that Tim Carmody himself was likely to preside over the controversial bail applications.

Tim Carmody stated the judges should not use the "weight of their office to engage in the public debate or to make comments about the comparative morality or fairness" of statutes.

Tim Carmody was the only judge who issued a statement in support of Bleijie, with his statement addressing his position "as head of jurisdiction" and confidence in continuing to meet with Bleijie in that capacity.

The President of the Bar Association, Peter Davis QC, supported Sofronoff's remarks, but noted that Tim Carmody deserved the community's respect as a sitting judge.

The head of the 1989 Fitzgerald Inquiry into corruption in Queensland, Tony Fitzgerald, urged Tim Carmody "not allow his ambition to subvert his personal integrity".

On 12 June 2014, Tim Carmody was announced as the next Chief Justice of Queensland by Campbell Newman, the Premier of Queensland.

Tim Carmody's appointment was criticised by the head of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, Tony Fitzgerald; Queensland's former solicitor general, Walter Sofronoff QC; and retired Supreme Court judges Richard Chesterman QC and George Fryberg.

Tim Carmody denied any bias in favour of the Newman LNP Government, stating that he was "fiercely independent".

Tim Carmody expressed an intention to emulate his predecessor in the role, Paul de Jersey.

Tim Carmody proposed greater access to the courts, such as live streaming of court proceedings to the public, and aligning courtroom decisions more closely to reasonable community expectations as key priorities.

Tim Carmody added that the appointment of Carmody would "weaken public confidence in the administration of justice and impact adversely on the willingness of parties, who have the freedom of choice in the matter, to litigate in Queensland state courts".

The newspaper speculated that Tim Carmody was urged to refuse the appointment to Chief Justice and that a compromise was suggested, whereby Tim Carmody would take a lesser promotion such as judge of the Supreme Court.

Tim Carmody was defended by the former Chief Justice of the Family Court with whom he had served, Alastair Nicholson.

The newly appointed head of the Bar Association of Queensland, Shane Doyle QC, stated that the controversy over the appointment was "in the past" and that Tim Carmody would have the Association's support.

At his welcoming speech, Tim Carmody noted the absence of the other judges and apologised to his wife and family for the distress caused by his appointment.

Tim Carmody subsequently removed his schedule from this calendar, and instead commenced a separate "Chief Justice's Engagements" calendar.

Wilson alleged that Tim Carmody had sought to remove Justice John Byrne from his role as Senior Judge Administrator, a move that he reversed after "universal condemnation" from other Supreme Court judges.

Tim Carmody further alleged that Carmody had sought to interfere with the protocol for choosing the judge who would sit on the Court of Disputed Returns.

Wilson stated that Tim Carmody had failed to hear any cases in recent weeks, preferring instead to undertake a public relations role which resulted in the other Supreme Court judges having to bear a heavier workload.

Tim Carmody, who had been overseas during Wilson's speech, subsequently wrote an open letter to the Bar Association of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society.

Tim Carmody responded to the allegation of interference with the Court of Disputed Returns protocol by stating he believed that under the legislation he was impliedly required to exercise his independent judgment and that he had taken advice from other Chief Justices in doing so.

Together with President McMurdo and Justice Hugh Fraser of the Court of Appeal, Tim Carmody sat on the appeal by Brett Peter Cowan against his conviction for the murder of Daniel Morcombe.

When she learned of this, President McMurdo emailed Tim Carmody to note that she was "deeply concerned" and that he should disclose the meeting to Cowan's defence lawyers.

McMurdo responded the next day, stating that she rejected all of Tim Carmody's "ill conceived allegations of impropriety".

The application to have Chief Justice Tim Carmody withdraw was heavily criticised by Daniel Morcombe's parents and by Bravehearts.

The released emails reveal that Tim Carmody had failed to read the draft judgments circulated months earlier by President McMurdo and Justice Fraser.

In May 2015 reports emerged that Tim Carmody had been secretly recorded by John Byrne, the Senior Judge Administrator when they met along with Justice David Boddice.

Tim Carmody was recorded as referring to the other Supreme Court judges as "scum".

Tim Carmody stated he had no intention of resigning and would continue to perform his role as Chief Justice.

Tim Carmody took one month's sick leave on 14 May 2015 to seek back treatment.

Tim Carmody's offer was welcomed by Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath as putting the judiciary before himself.

Tim Carmody was due to subsequently outline his vision for court reform at a Hamilton Island legal conference but withdrew due to his wife's illness.

Tim Carmody resigned as Chief Justice on 1 July 2015 but remained a Judge of the Supreme Court, sitting as a supplemental judicial member of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Tim Carmody was replaced as Chief Justice by Catherine Holmes, who praised his grace in stepping down and promised that she would offer him "whatever help I can give".

Tim Carmody continued as Supreme Court judge and supplementary QCAT member until he resigned from the bench with effect from 10 September 2019.

Tim Carmody's resignation was announced by Attorney-General Yvette d'Ath on 17 July 2018.