The Honourable Chief Justice Will Alstergren | |
|---|---|
| 5th Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia | |
| Assumed office 10 December 2018[1] | |
| Nominated by | Scott Morrison |
| Appointed by | Peter Cosgrove |
| Preceded by | John Pascoe |
| 3rdChief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia | |
| Assumed office 13 October 2017[1] | |
| Nominated by | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Appointed by | Peter Cosgrove |
| Preceded by | John Pascoe |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Edvard William Alstergren[1] (1962-04-12)12 April 1962 (age 63) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Kate[2] |
| Children | 3[2] |
| Alma mater | University of Melbourne |
| Occupation | Jurist;barrister |
Edvard William AlstergrenAO (born 12 April 1962),[1] commonly known asWill Alstergren,[3][4] is an Australian jurist who has held the positions ofChief Justice of theFamily Court of Australia since 10 December 2018, and Chief Judge of theFederal Circuit Court of Australia since 13 October 2017.
Alstergren attendedGeelong Grammar School,Scotch College, Melbourne[5] andMelbourne Grammar School.[6] He graduated withBachelor of Arts and aBachelor of Laws degrees from theUniversity of Melbourne in 1991, where he resided atTrinity College and later completed aMaster of Laws in 2010.[7] He commenced practising as a barrister inMelbourne in 1991, specialising in commercial law, tax law, industrial law and family law, and was appointedQueen's Counsel in 2012.[8] In 2013 he was Chairman of theVictorian Bar Association, and in 2017 was the Chairman of theAustralian Bar Association.[7]
On 13 October 2017, Alstergren was appointed as the Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia, replacingJohn Pascoe (who was appointed as Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia). Alstergren was given a concurrent commission as a Justice of the Family Court of Australia.[9]
When Pascoe reached the statutory retirement age from the Family Court a year later, Alstergren was appointed to succeed him as Chief Justice of the Family Court, effective from 10 December 2018. He retained his appointment as Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court amongst a Government plan to merge both courts.[10]Robert McClelland was appointed as Deputy Chief Justice at the same time.[7]
Alstergren was the captain of the Australian bobsled team in 2002.[11] His team met theInternational Olympic Committee qualifying standards for the2002 Winter Olympics, but theAustralian Olympic Committee used higher standards and did not send them to compete. Alstergren said "We also beat half the teams currently in Salt Lake City, but unfortunately we couldn't meet the very high standard of the AOC".[12]
In 2022, Alstergren was appointed as anOfficer of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, and to sport as an administrator, coach and athlete".[13]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia 2018–present | Incumbent |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia 2017–present | Incumbent |