Justice of the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal
Justice Coates was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia in 1994, studying at the University College of the Northern Territory and the Barristers' Admission Board of Queensland.
He began his professional career with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in Brisbane, conducting criminal prosecutions on behalf of the community. He then became Legal Adviser to the Attorney-General of Queensland, the Hon. Denver Beanland, providing advice on constitutional law, legislative development, drafting, and parliamentary procedure. His legal career continued with the Public Trustee of Queensland, where he specialised in succession and guardianship and subsequently went to the private bar practising over a wide field including trials, appeals and advices.
Appointed a Judge of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia in 2006, he presided over a broad range of Federal law matters including judicial review proceedings. From 2024, he served as a Justice of the National and Supreme Courts of Papua New Guinea, presiding over trials, appeals, and circuit courts throughout the country. During this time, he worked alongside Justice C. Makail to establish regular continuing legal education programs for legal practitioners, helping to strengthen professional standards and support the ongoing development of the legal profession.
Throughout his judicial career, he also regularly participated in legal education initiatives, mentoring and inspiring future generations of law students. His experience across the highest levels of the judiciary, government, private practice, and legal education has provided him with a unique perspective on the law and its role in shaping a just society.
Justice Coates was sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal on 01 May 2026