Each year, distinguished Australians serve on the Judging Panel for the finalists of the Governor-General’s Undergraduate Essay Prize.

The 2020-21 panel consisted of:

• The Hon. Justice Michelle Gordon AC (Chair)
  High Court of Australia
• Professor Cheryl Saunders AO
  Laureate Professor Emeritus, University of Melbourne
• Emeritus Professor H P Lee
  Monash University
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie

The 2018-19 panel consisted of:

• The Hon. Justice Geoffrey Nettle AC (Chair)
  High Court of Australia
• Professor the Honourable Marilyn Warren AC, QC
  Vice-Chancellor's Professorial Fellow, Office of the VC & President at Monash University
• Emeritus Professor H P Lee
  Monash University
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie

The 2016-17 panel consisted of:

• The Hon. Justice Stephen Gageler AC (Chair)
  High Court of Australia
• The Hon Brendan Nelson AO BMBS FRACP (HON) FAMA FRSN
  Director of the Australian War Memorial
• Professor Fiona Wheeler
  Professor of Law and Associate Dean of the ANU College of Law, ANU
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie

The 2015 panel consisted of:

• The Hon. Justice Patrick Keane AC (Chair)
  High Court of Australia
• The Hon. Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO
  Former Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
• Professor Peter Gerangelos
  Professor of Constitutional Law, University of Sydney
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie

The 2013-14 panel consisted of:

• The Hon. Justice Susan Kiefel AC (Chair)
  High Court of Australia
• Professor Nicholas Aroney
  Australian Research Council Future Fellow, University of Queensland
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie
• Ms Shireen Morris
  Policy Advisor and Constitutional Reform Research Fellow, Cape York Institute

The 2012 panel consisted of:

•  The Hon Justice Kenneth Hayne AC (Chair)
  Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Professor Peter Gerangelos
  Professor of Law, University of Sydney Law School
• Mr George Harris 
  Partner, Baker & Mckenzie
• Dr Peter Johnston
  Senior Barrister, Constitutional Law Lecturer and Author)
• Professor HP Lee 
  Sir John Latham Professor of Law, Monash University
• The Hon Justice Pamela Tate 
  Justice of the Court of Appeal, Supreme Court Victoria

The 2011 panel consisted of:

• The Hon Justice William Gummow AC
  Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Professor Simon Evans
  Professor of Law, University of Melbourne
• The Hon Stephen Gageler SC
  (Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
• Mr Andrew Salgo
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie
• Professor Fiona Wheeler
  Professor of Law and Associate Dean of the ANU College of Law, ANU
• Mrs Kerry Jones
  Executive Director of Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA)

The 2010 panel consisted of:

• The Hon Justice Virginia Bell AC
  Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Dr Peter Gerangelos
  Professor of Law, University of Sydney Law School
• Mr Michael Sexton SC
  Solicitor-General of New South Wales
• Father Frank Brennan
  Professor of Law, Australian Catholic University
• Mr George Harris
  Partner, Baker & McKenzie
• Mrs Kerry Jones
  Executive Director, Constitution Education Fund Australia

The 2009 panel consisted of:

• The Hon Chief Justice Robert French AC 
  Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Professor Gillian Triggs 
  Dean, University of Sydney Law School
• Professor George Williams 
  Anthony Mason Professor, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales
• Professor Peter Gerangelos 
  Associate Professor, University of Sydney Law School
• Professor Patrick Keyzer 
  Director, Centre for Law, Governance and Public Policy, Faculty of Law, Bond University

The 2008 panel consisted of:

• The Hon Justice Dyson Heydon AC
• Dame Leonie Kramer AC DBE
• Mr Malcolm Mackerras AO
• Dr Peter Gerangelos
• Mrs Kerry Jones

The 2007 panel consisted of:

The 2006 Panel consisted of:

The 2005 Panel Consisted of :

• The Hon Justice Ian Callinan AC
• Dr John Hirst
• Professor George Winterton

The 2004 Panel consised of: