Communities and Justice

Judicial Commission Chief Executive to retire

24 Feb 2022

Judicial Commission of NSW Chief Executive Ernest Schmatt AM PSM is retiring after more than three decades years at the helm.

Attorney General Mark Speakman thanked Mr Schmatt for his leadership and his extraordinary achievements over the course of a long and impressive career.

“For 33 years Ernest has been responsible for all of the Commission’s operations; from managing finances to overseeing research, handling complaints, developing information systems and running education activities,” Mr Speakman said.

“Ernest has played a significant role in the way law is practised in NSW. He's worked for the benefit of every legal professional who accesses educational courses, information, services or resources through the Commission. I wish Ernest all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

After being admitted to legal practice in 1979, Mr Schmatt held senior legal and management positions in the public sector and served as solicitor assisting the Special Commission of Inquiry into the Police Investigation of the death of Donald McKay. He joined the Judicial Commission at its founding in 1987 before being appointed its Chief Executive in 1989.

“Mr Speakman praised Mr Schmatt’s contributions to educating judicial officers both at home and abroad.

“Ernest’s work has crossed state and national borders. He has occupied senior positions with the Nova Scotia-based Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, the Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum and the International Organisation for Judicial Training, where he rose to Deputy Secretary General,” Mr Speakman said.

For his services to judicial education and other remarkable achievements in the public sector, Mr Schmatt was honoured with a Public Service Medal in the 1997 Queen’s Birthday Honours List and made a member of the Order of Australia in 2018.

The Judicial Commission of NSW is an independent statutory corporation composed of heads of jurisdiction and community representatives. The commission provides judicial education, training and sentencing information for NSW judicial officers and examines complaints about the ability or behaviour of judicial officers in NSW.

Ernest Schmatt retires tomorrow, Friday, 25 February.

Last updated:

24 Feb 2022