FCFCOA Judges Steven Middleton Sandra Taglieri Tracy Flintoff Appointed

• The Australian government has appointed three judges to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA): Steven Middleton and Sandra Taglieri to Division 1, and Tracy Flintoff to Division 2.
• The appointments were made following merit-based processes, with an advisory panel considering the applications that led to these judicial appointments.
• Judge Steven Middleton has served as a judge of Division 2 in Brisbane since 2015, while Judge Sandra Taglieri has sat as a judge of Division 2 in Hobart since 2021.
• Tracy Flintoff has been serving as a senior judicial registrar of the FCFCOA since 2021 and was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001.

The Government has made these appointments following merit-based processes to ensure that judicial appointments meet the high standards Australians expect.

The Australian government has announced the appointment of three judges to the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA). As of August 10, 2026, Steven Middleton and Sandra Taglieri will move from Division 2 to Division 1, while Tracy Flintoff will be reassigned to Division 2. The appointments were made following merit-based processes, with an advisory panel composed of eminent individuals considering the applications that led to these judicial appointments.

The Attorney-General's Department has confirmed that Middleton and Taglieri have accepted their new roles in Division 1, while Flintoff has been appointed to Division 2. This development may impact existing cases or require adjustments in strategy for clients currently before Judge Middleton.

The appointments of Middleton, Taglieri, and Flintoff are the result of an open call for expressions of interest. The advisory panel considered the applications, ensuring that judicial appointments meet the high standards Australians expect. This process is in line with the government's commitment to merit-based appointments.

Judge Steven Middleton has a long history with the FCFCOA, having served as a judge of Division 2 in Brisbane since 2015. He was admitted as a solicitor in the New South Wales Supreme Court and the Australian High Court in 1996. Judge Sandra Taglieri also brings extensive experience to her new role, having sat as a judge of Division 2 in Hobart since 2021. She was previously the immediate past president of the Tasmanian Bar Association.

Tracy Flintoff has been serving as a senior judicial registrar of the FCFCOA since 2021 and was admitted as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 2001.

The appointments of Middleton, Taglieri, and Flintoff to their new roles may have significant implications for existing cases before Judge Middleton. Lawyers should note that this development may require adjustments in strategy for clients currently before him. The appointments also reflect the government's commitment to merit-based appointments, ensuring that judicial appointments meet the high standards Australians expect.

The FCFCOA plays a critical role in the Australian justice system, and these appointments demonstrate the importance of having experienced and qualified judges on the bench. As Judge Middleton and Taglieri take on new roles in Division 1, they will be responsible for hearing complex cases and making important decisions that impact the lives of Australians.

Lawyers should note the appointment of Judge Steven Middleton to Division 1, which may impact existing cases or require adjustments in strategy for clients currently before him.

Source: Original reporting via Australasian Lawyer