She has been the state’s deputy director of public prosecutions
Andrew Bell, chief justice of New South Wales, has welcomed the appointment of Helen Roberts as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
“This appointment will strengthen the court’s capacity to deliver timely and fair justice to the community,” said Michael Daley, attorney general, in a media release from the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice.
Roberts has replaced Justice Mark Ierace, who joined the bench in 2019.
In a LinkedIn post, the NSW Supreme Court shared that it will swear in Roberts at a ceremonial sitting in the Banco Court on 16 March 2026. The court noted that all members of the public and the profession could attend.
The NSW Supreme Court’s LinkedIn post, the NSW government department’s media release, and information from the website of the New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) provided more information regarding Roberts’ professional experience.
Roberts is an experienced barrister who took silk in 2021.
“Ms Roberts is an exceptional lawyer who has enjoyed a distinguished career as a crown prosecutor and brings to the bench extensive experience in the administration of justice,” Daley said in the media release.
Roberts commenced her legal career as a tipstaff to Kim Santow, late justice of the NSW Supreme Court. She then served as an associate to Murray Gleeson, former chief justice of the High Court of Australia.
She first joined the NSW ODPP in 1999. She then worked as a solicitor advocate at the New South Wales Crown Solicitor’s Office, as deputy coroner for the Northern Territory, and as Crown prosecutor at the Northern Territory ODPP.
Upon returning to the NSW ODPP, Roberts became Crown prosecutor in July 2010. She garnered trial experience in the state’s District and Supreme Courts, focusing on appellate work since 2017. She began serving as deputy senior Crown prosecutor in February 2019, as senior counsel in September 2021, and as deputy director of public prosecutions in October 2022.
She has appeared on behalf of the NSW director of public prosecutions in multiple appeals before the state’s Court of Criminal Appeal, Court of Appeal, and High Court.
Roberts has been an adjunct associate professor at the University of New South Wales, where she has taught advocacy. She co-chaired the New South Wales Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee from 2021–24.
“Her expertise, integrity and dedication will be an asset to the Supreme Court of NSW,” Daley said in the media release.
