Andrew Bell

Andrew Scott Bell (born 21 February 1966) is an Australian barrister serving as the Chief Justice of New South Wales and Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours.

He was a Rhodes Scholar for New South Wales, and practised as a barrister-at-law. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Sydney, and from 2019 was the President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. On 7 March 2022, Bell was sworn in as the 18th Chief Justice of New South Wales, succeeding Tom Bathurst, who retired on 5 March 2022. As Chief Justice, he is the President of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales.

Early life Bell is the son of economist Harold Bell and art historian Pamela Bell. Bell grew up on the North Shore of Sydney and attended four schools, Balmoral Infants, Mosman Primary, Neutral Bay Opportunity and Sydney Grammar School and was Dux of the School.

Academic life Bell began his legal studies at the University of Sydney. He graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Arts and in 1989 a Bachelor of Laws with first class honours and receiving the University Medal in both degrees. Bell also received the Sydney University Convocation Medal. He was a resident from 1985 to 1989 at St Paul's College. He became a member of the College Council in 2004, and continued to serve as a member until 2013,

In 1990, Bell was the Rhodes Scholar for New South Wales and undertook a Bachelor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford. a past chairman of a Professional Conduct Committee of that Association and was for many years the editor of the Bar Association's journal titled "Bar News".

He was twice the chairman of his chambers, Eleven Wentworth He introduced key changes such as a universal minimum income for artists in the Sydney exhibition, and later covering the costs of the heavy installation equipment for artists in both Sydney and Perth. He also developed initiatives such as "Sculpture at Barangaroo", held in 2016 and 2017, as well as the Sydney Sculpture Conference at the Sydney Opera House.

Bell would attend opening nights in Cottesloe wearing a Hawaiian shirt. In 2011 he escorted Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary at the Sydney exhibition. Bell was later alleged to have said that his meeting with the Crown Princess was the highlight of their trip to Australia in 2011. At the 20th anniversary dinner for Sculpture by the Sea in 2016, Bell took the stage with a photograph of the Crown Princess with himself looming in the background and exclaimed how delighted the princess looked at seeing him. As President, he was an official member of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales. On 4 June 2019, he was sworn in as an Administrator of the State of New South Wales. Bell was sworn in on 7 March 2022 as the 18th Chief Justice of New South Wales, succeeding Tom Bathurst, who retired on 5 March 2022. As Chief Justice, he became the President of the Judicial Commission of New South Wales. He was sworn in as Lieutenant-Governor of New South Wales on 5 December 2022. On 9 May 2023, he opened the 58th Parliament of New South Wales while the Governor was in the United Kingdom for the coronation of Charles III.

His lead judgments include Searle v Commonwealth of Australia, an important case on the constitutional doctrine of "fettering" of discretionary powers of Government., R v Taylor concerning tendency evidence, Graylag Goose v Garuda concerning sovereign immunity, and Nyunt v First Property concerning the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments.