About

Since becoming a barrister in 1966 John Coldrey has contributed to many different areas of the legal profession throughout Australia. Following his appointment as the Director of Public Prosecutions for Victoria in 1984 he became a Justice of the Victorian Supreme Court in 1991 where he served until 2008. He was also active in the Northern Territory where he defended Aboriginal accused and, subsequently, in his role as the Director of Legal Services for the Central Land Council (1982-84) he was involved in the grant of Aboriginal title to Uluru as well as conducting Aboriginal land claims and negotiating major industry agreements with the Northern Territory Government and mining companies.

John Coldrey has written numerous major conference papers and articles relating to the operation of the criminal law. He has been a member of various committees and councils including chairing the Consultative Committee on Police Powers of Investigation. In 2004, John Coldrey was awarded the Gold Medal of the International Society for Reform of Criminal Law (of which he is a Board member) in recognition of his contribution towards criminal law reform. He is an Honorary Life Member of the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria and has served as a judicial member of the Forensic Leave Panel and the Adult Parole Board of Victoria.

In 2011 the Victorian Bar Council created ‘Coldrey Chambers’ – a set of barristers’ chambers named in his honour. In 2013 John Coldrey was made an Honorary Fellow of Monash University. In 2019 John Coldrey was appointed as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to the law and to the judiciary, to legal reform, and to the community. He joined the VIFM Council in 2008.