State’s chief justice recognised their ‘diligent performance of their duties to the Courts’
On behalf of the judges of the Supreme Court of South Australia, SA Chief Justice Laura Stein has announced the appointments of Simon James Blewett and Benjamin Leigh Garnaut as two new senior counsel.
Stein congratulated Blewett and Garnaut on their appointments.
“They have earned this recognition through the diligent performance of their duties to the Courts and their clients,” Stein said.
According to a news release from the Courts Administration Authority (CAA) of South Australia, the selection of Blewett and Garnaut followed a broad consultation with the state’s judicial officers, senior law officers, and legal professionals.
The selection criteria spanned legal learning, advocacy skills and experience, integrity, independence, and availability to potential clients.
“The appointment of Senior Counsel is a significant event for the successful applicants, for the legal profession, and the South Australian community,” Stein said. “Senior Counsel are leaders of the profession who adhere to the highest standards of legal excellence, integrity, and respectful behaviour.”
The CAA’s news release provided more information regarding the professional experience and educational background of the two new appointees.
Nearly exclusively, Blewett handles matters involving employment, industrial relations, discrimination, and workers compensation law. He also has a more limited practice in administrative law and the law relating to Aboriginal people.
He primarily practises in the Federal Family and Federal Circuit Court of Australia, the Federal Court, the Fair Work Commission, and the South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET). He periodically appears before the South Australian Court of Appeal on appeals from the SAET.
Blewett joined the independent bar in July 2017 and earned admission to legal practice in December 1990. He received his LLM from New York University and his LLB with first-class honours from the University of Adelaide.
As the current assistant Crown advocate, Garnaut has advised and acted for the state, its ministers, and its agencies in a wide array of primary and appellate proceedings.
His advocacy work predominantly focuses on civil, commercial, industrial, and public law litigation, as well as regulatory prosecutions, administrative merits reviews, and coronial inquests.
Garnaut regularly appears before the South Australian Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and the SAET. From time to time, he also appears before the High Court of Australia and the Federal Court of Australia.
In September 2007, he gained admission to legal practice. He obtained his LLB with first-class honours from the University of Adelaide.
Here are some other recent news stories involving appointments in South Australia.
In late January, the SA attorney-general announced the appointments of Katrina Bochner and Kristopher Handshin as justices of the Supreme Court of South Australia as of 19 February 2026.
In mid-January, the state attorney-general announced that Laura Stein would replace Chris Kourakis as SA chief justice as of 19 February 2026, making her the first woman to hold the position.
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