Society needs efficient and well-functioning courts. In practice, that means we need judges and magistrates in good mental health.

However, a growing body of research shows these judicial officers are living with very concerning levels of stress and trauma.

This is a worldwide problem.

One 2025 New Zealand study reported judges and magistrates had to contend with “enormous workloads, complex cases, unmanageable deadlines, high personal and public performance expectations, and reported professional isolation with limited management support”.

A study of Ghanaian judges published this year revealed many feel under intense pressure to perform, and struggle with work-life balance. Research shows judges in the United Kingdom are experiencing stress, burnout, sleep problems and isolation.

A study I coauthored with researchers specialising in law, sociology and psychology looked more closely at this issue in the Australian context.

Our research, based on a survey of 602 judges and magistrates from all states and territories across Australia, and published last year in the Judicial Officers Bulletin, revealed 38.4% registered either moderate or high levels of distress.

More than one-third of them had trauma symptom levels high enough to warrant........

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