Queensland's chief justice has been accused of verbally denigrating his colleagues and critically lowering morale in the state's judiciary.
Supreme Court Justice Alan Wilson used his retirement address on Thursday to launch the scathing attack on Chief Justice Tim Carmody.
Justice Wilson said his former boss had alienated his colleagues by calling them derogatory names.
"He has on different occasions referred to (judges) collectively as 'snakes' and 'scum'," he said.
The distinguished Justice Wilson - who was the inaugural president of the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal - also criticised the chief justice for not presiding over enough cases himself in favour of media and ceremonial engagements.
This meant the top job had shifted away from the day-to-day work of a judge to a "full-time PR role".
Sensationally, he also suggested the chief justice had improperly meddled with established protocols of appointing judges to the Court of Disputed Returns.
The electoral court came under the spotlight this year given a potential government-deciding by-election in the seat of Ferny Grove after the cliffhanger state election, ultimately lost by the sitting LNP government.
"The chief justice's initial attempts to contest the automatic operation of that protocol, and then his attempts to speak privately with the next nominated judge (about) what he described in a memorandum as 'unresolved concerns' was unanimously condemned by the judges," Justice Wilson said.
The former Newman government controversially promoted Mr Carmody to chief justice last June - despite the fact the 58-year-old former chief magistrate had not served on the Supreme Court bench.
The appointment attracted criticism from some senior judicial figures who questioned his experience and noted a lack of peer support.
Justice Wilson hinted at such professional tensions in his withering attack when he claimed Chief Justice Carmody had tried to sack a senior judge, Justice John Byrne.
But he revealed this bid was abandoned when it was met with severe disapproval from the other judges.
"(There is) a serious loss of morale within the court," he said.
"I hear judges at all levels of seniority speaking seriously of resignation."
The chief justice - now in Papua New Guinea on official duties - has apparently not sat in an actual hearing since February 15 this year.
Former solicitor-general Walter Sofronoff said the address had lifted the lid on some long-held concerns judges previously felt "unable to reveal" about Chief Justice Carmody's conduct.
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath praised Justice Wilson's reputation for fairness and decency in parliament but didn't comment on his critique of the chief justice.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg was also reluctant to respond to the comments.
Mr Springborg, whose Liberal National Party government installed Justice Carmody, said such outspoken remarks were "not unusual".
The chief justice later issued a statement criticising Justice Wilson for his "unfortunate remarks".
Justice Carmody says he's "disappointed that Justice Wilson would use the occasion of his retirement to "embroil the court in more controversy".
"I reject outright his attack on my integrity and performance as Chief Justice," he wrote.
"His behaviour is the best argument yet for an independent judicial commission."
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