Chief Justice Peter Underwood was appointed to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania on 2 December 2004. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court in September 1984. Chief Justice Underwood is the Deputy President of the Australian Defence Force Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal and was the President of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration from 2002 to September 2004.

Chief Justice Underwood is a graduate of the University of Tasmania and prior to his appointment to the bench practised law in Hobart.

His Honour served in the Royal Australian Navy first as a National Service man and then in the Reserve as a sub-lieutenant.

His Honour was a distinguished trial advocate for over twenty years. He manages and teaches the Supreme Court Practice and Advocacy Unit at the University of Tasmania and teaches advocacy in all States of Australia with the Advocacy Institute of Australia. He has also taught for the College of Law (UK) in Hong Kong and London.

Chief Justice Underwood has a special interest in the reform of civil procedure. He pioneered case management in Tasmania in 1989 and was instrumental in the development and use of technology as an aid to judicial work.

In 2001, His Honour was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his services to legal education, the arts and the administration of justice.

In June 2002 Justice Underwood became an officer of the Order of Australia.