Stephen Andrew McDonald
The Honourable Justice Stephen Andrew McDonald | |
|---|---|
| Judge of the Federal Court of Australia | |
| Assumed office 8 July 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide (BCom; LLB (Hons)) |
| Occupation | Judge; barrister |
Stephen Andrew McDonald is an Australian judge of the Federal Court of Australia, serving since 8 July 2024.[1] His appointment, alongside that of Jane Needham SC, was announced by the Commonwealth Attorney-General in June 2024.[2]
Early life and education
Justice McDonald graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2001 and a Bachelor of Laws (First-Class Honours) in 2004.[1] At graduation he was awarded the University Medal in Law.[3]
Legal career
Justice McDonald was admitted in the Supreme Court of South Australia in 2004. He served as Associate to Justice Richard White of the Supreme Court of South Australia and in 2005 as Research Assistant to the then Solicitor-General for South Australia (now Chief Justice) Chris Kourakis.[3] He joined the Crown Solicitor’s Office (SA) in 2006, was called to the South Australian Bar in 2011 and appointed Senior Counsel in 2020.[1][3] He has taught administrative and government law as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide and is co-author of Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (Cambridge University Press).[3][4]
Judicial career
The Attorney-General announced Justice McDonald’s appointment on 21 June 2024, with his commission commencing on 8 July 2024 in the Adelaide Registry.[2][5] A ceremonial sitting of a Full Court to welcome Justice McDonald was held on 27 August 2024, with speeches published by the Court and the Law Council of Australia.[3][6]
Government Accountability
McDonald is co-author (with Judith Bannister and Anna Olijnyk) of Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (3rd ed., Cambridge University Press, 2023).[7][8] The book sets out the legal principles that regulate exercises of public power in Australia and the mechanisms for holding government to account, integrating doctrine with case studies drawn from contemporary practice.[7][8]
The text frames accountability as the organising idea in Australian administrative law and situates it within democratic, rule-of-law, separation-of-powers and individual-rights justifications.[8] It emphasises the relationship between administrative law and the Australian constitutional framework (including federalism and the distribution of powers among the branches of government).[8] Across its chapters the third edition addresses core topics such as procedural fairness, the statutory and general-law grounds of review, and remedies (including limits on relief and the interaction of public and private law).[8] It also notes recent developments, including expanded discussion of **materiality** in the analysis of jurisdictional error.[8]
The work is accompanied by a companion casebook, Government Accountability: Sources and Materials – Australian Administrative Law, which reproduces primary materials with editorial commentary aligned to the structure of the main text.[9]
Honours and recognition
- University Medal in Law – University of Adelaide.[3]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Hon Stephen Andrew McDONALD". Federal Court of Australia. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Appointments to the Federal Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2)". Attorney-General of Australia (media release). 21 June 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Ceremonial sitting of the Full Court to welcome the Honourable Justice McDonald (transcript)". Federal Court of Australia. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (3rd ed)". Cambridge University Press. 21 September 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Judges of the Court listed by date of appointment". Federal Court of Australia. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Ceremonial Sitting of the Federal Court of Australia to welcome the Honourable Justice Stephen McDonald" (PDF). Law Council of Australia. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (3rd ed)". Cambridge University Press. June 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 "Government Accountability: Australian Administrative Law (3rd ed) – preview" (PDF). Cambridge University Press (preview via pageplace.de). 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
- ↑ "Government Accountability: Sources and Materials – Australian Administrative Law (3rd ed) – preview" (PDF). Cambridge University Press (preview via pageplace.de). 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
External links
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