2026 AIJA Award for Excellence

Nominations for the 2026 Award are now closed.

At the AIJA’s 2023 Annual General Meeting, the winner of the 2023 award was announced:

Mr Matthew Weatherson
Judicial Information Advisor at the Judicial College of Victoria

Matthew was nominated by his colleagues for the ‘Judicial Precedent Builders’ initiative. This initiative includes the design of five cutting-edge systems that allow judicial officers to automate the preparation of jury directions and reasons in certain cases.

Samantha Burchell, CEO of the Judicial College of Victoria, said:

‘Matt is the primary author of the Victorian Criminal Charge Book. He has combined his analytical mind and intuitive technological capability to create a tool that enhances judicial efficiency. The precedent builders have real potential to make a judge’s work easier, while preserving the essential decision-making process.’

We congratulate Matthew on this success.