Murray Gleeson
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| Murray Gleeson | |
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11th Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia
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| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1998 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Gerard Brennan |
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| Born | 30 August 1938 Wingham, New South Wales |
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Anthony Murray Gleeson AC QC (born 30 August 1938) is the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
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[edit] Biography
Gleeson was born in Wingham, New South Wales, the eldest of four children. He was educated at St Joseph's College where he won the Lawrence Campbell Oratory Competition in both 1953 and 1955, before matriculating to receive first class honours degrees in Arts and Law from Sydney University. Among his graduating class of 1962 was Michael Kirby who serves alongside him on the High Court. [1]
He married Robyn Patterson in 1965, and the couple have four children.
[edit] Barristerial activity
Gleeson was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1963. He was appointed as a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1974 and was President of the New South Wales Bar Association 1984 - 1985.
He was a methodical counsel, who prepared his cases and even his cross examinations in minute detail. He was nicknamed "the smiler" because of the sternness of his mien. Retired Justice of Appeal, Roderick Meagher, said jokingly of Gleeson: "He has written nothing outside his professional work. He takes no interest in either music or art. He does, however, like flowers. He stares at them to make them wilt." [2]
[edit] Judicial activity
Gleeson was appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1988. He held that position until he was appointed as Chief Justice of the High Court in May 1998, a position he still holds.
During his tenure as Chief Justice, Gleeson has actively maintained the importance of judicial independence in the face of increasing executive government power and public anger with court decisions. He has also spoken out against the use of torture, forced confessions and detention without trial. [3][4]
Under the Australian Constitution he must retire from the High Court in 2008 when he will be 70.
[edit] Other appointments
Gleeson was the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales 1989 - 1998.
[edit] Honours
- He received Australia's third highest civil order at the time when he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1986
- He received Australia's highest civil honour when he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1992.
[edit] Trivia
- Gleeson's daughter, Rebecca, is married to actor Eric Bana.[5]
- Gleeson's hobbies include tennis. [1]
- The Australian Financial Review magazine named Gleeson Australia's seventh most overtly powerful person. [6]
[edit] References
- ^ Kirby, Michael (1998-07-16). Murray Gleeson - Law Student. High Court of Australia.
- ^ Ackland, Richard. "Stand by as Roddy comes off the bench", Sydney Morning Herald, 2004-03-12.
- ^ Wilkinson, Marian. "Torture debate: Chief Justices lays down law", Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-10-07.
- ^ A Core Value, Annual Colloquium, Judicial Conference of Australia. High Court of Australia (2006-10-06). Retrieved on 2006-10-11.
- ^ Kate Halfpenny. "Under the Gun". Who Magazine. August 8 2000.
- ^ "Howard most powerful", 2006-09-28.
| Preceded by Sir Gerard Brennan |
Chief Justice of Australia 1998-present |
Succeeded by (incumbent) |
| Preceded by Laurence Whistler Street |
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales 1988 - 1998 |
Succeeded by James Jacob Spigelman |
| Current Justices of the High Court of Australia |  |
|---|---|
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Chief Justice: Gleeson |
| Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia | |
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Griffith | Knox | Isaacs | Gavan Duffy | Latham | Dixon | Barwick | Gibbs | Mason | Brennan | Gleeson |
