25 JULY 2025
FIRST INTERNATIONAL DAY OF JUDICIAL WELL BEING
We are delighted to share a LETTER FROM THE CMJA PRESIDENT regarding the celebration of today, the first International Day of Judicial Well Being. The importance of the Nauru Declaration on Judicial Well Being has been recognised by the United Nations and the CMJA supports all efforts to ensure judicial wellness.
We are also happy to inform you of other events held in and around this day:
ACU Thomas More Law School celebrated inaugural International Day for Judicial Wellbeing with liturgy and launch of global judicial wellbeing research hub
Brisbane, QLD – The Thomas More Law School at Australian Catholic University (ACU) today marked a historic occasion with a liturgy to celebrate the inaugural International Day for Judicial Wellbeing.
Held at the Holy Spirit Chapel on ACU’s Brisbane Campus, the event was attended by a distinguished gathering of current and former members of the judiciary, legal professionals, academics, students, and ACU leadership. Guests of honour included ACU Chancellor and former Supreme Court Judge, The Honourable Martin Daubney AM KC, who chaired the event, and The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC CVO KC, former Chief Justice and Governor of Queensland, who served as Chief Guest. The liturgy was led by Father Frank Brennan SJ, son of the late Sir Gerard Brennan, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia.
In conjunction with the liturgy, the Thomas More Law School of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) proudly launched the Global Judicial Wellbeing Research Hub, a pioneering initiative designed to support judiciaries, judicial associations, and institutions worldwide in conducting empirical research on the wellbeing of judges. This initiative is led by The Honourable Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena, President of the Court of Appeal in Nauru and Adjunct Professor at ACU, in collaboration with Associate Professor Kunle Ola, Interim Dean of the Thomas More Law School, and Dr Anne Pickering.
This new research platform features rigorously developed, evidence-based questionnaires tailored to judicial contexts, enabling the global legal community to pursue data-driven reforms aimed at promoting resilience, wellbeing, and sustainability within judicial systems.
The International Day for Judicial Wellbeing, co-sponsored by Australia and over 70 nations, was officially adopted by the United Nations following the advocacy of Justice Wimalasena and the government of Nauru. It serves as a global reminder of the need to prioritise the mental and emotional health of those who uphold the rule of law.
ACU remains committed to leading research, international collaboration, and policy advocacy in support of judicial wellbeing and institutional resilience across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Caribbean Association of Women Judges Celebrate Day of Judicial Well Being
Besides this, we are delighted to share with you the links to the President of Caribbean Association of Women Judges (CAWJ) 2025 message on judicial well being. The President of the CWJA, Mrs Justice Nadia Kangaloo, issued a CAWJ Message for Intl Day for Judicial Wellbeing 2025
In addition they have produced a series of podcasts online: Judicial Well Being 360
International Bar Association Conference on “The Global Call for Judicial Well Being“
On the 24 July 2025, the International Bar Association (IBA) organised a conference on “The global call for judicial wellbeing”. Judicial officers are facing extraordinary pressure and distress such as judicial distress, harrasment, low satisfaction, physical safety and families in every countries. The judicial wellbeing is not a private or individual concern, but an institutional and universal responsibility. Consequently, this will affect their work of delivering quality judgment and decision making. The speakers asked for the public to engage in increasing awareness in judicial wellbeing.
Judicial Institute for Africa (JIFA) webinar on “Celebrating International Judicial Well-being Day”
On the 24th July 2025, the JIFA has organised a webinar on “Celebrating International Judicial Well-being Day”, focusing on sharing the vision behind recognising judicial wellbeing as a global priority. The challenges faced by magistrates and judges are increasing and it is an urgent issue to overcome. One of the speakers delve into the issue from a psychological perspectives, mentioned that the judicial wellness is vital for the whole community. The International Day of Judicial Well Being is a good start and we need to bring this to the eye of the public.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Malawi, Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Australia celebrate International Day of Judicial Well-Being
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- Threats to judges a threat to justice – Australian Judicial Officers Association
- International Day for Judicial Well-Being and Political Encroachment | Sri Lanka Guardian
- Chief justice pays tribute to judiciary’s ‘silent strength’ | The Express Tribune
- Uganda Judicial well Being Celebration
- Judicial well-being: From taboo to recognition by the UN
- Papua New Guinea celebrate International Day of Judicial Well Being
The Malawi judiciary’s celebration on Judicial Well Being.