Carmody critic elevated to Supreme Court

A prominent Queensland barrister who famously opposed the appointment of Tim Carmody as chief justice under the former Newman government has been elevated to the Supreme Court.

Brisbane barrister Peter Davis QC resigned as president of the Queensland Bar Association in 2014 after tapes of a private meeting with then-attorney-general Jarrod Bleijie were leaked in which he criticised Justice Carmody's appointment.

The appointment had been deeply unpopular amongst the state's legal community, with Justice Carmody elevated directly from chief magistrate to chief justice amid allegations he was too close to and openly supportive of the Newman Liberal National Party government.

Mr Davis said at the time he was deeply disappointed his words were leaked and "distorted".

"One can't go to a meeting and speak freely if one believes there will be a breach of confidence," he said.

Labor's current Acting Attorney-General Cameron Dick on Friday announced Mr Davis would become a supreme court justice, saying his appointment was "a pleasure".

"Peter Davis is rightly recognised as one of this state's leading criminal lawyers and has been a senior leader of the Bar, including serving as a president of the Queensland Bar Association," Mr Dick said in a statement.

"He will bring a wealth of experience to the bench."

Following sustained criticism of his appointment, Justice Carmody resigned as supreme court chief justice in July 2015, although he remained on the supreme court, serving on the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Meanwhile, Cairns barrister Tracy Fantin has been named a District Court Judge, after serving on the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal and the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

Ms Fantin was also named Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year by the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland in 2016.