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'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.

Contents

Biography

Barristerial activity

Judicial activity

Other appointments

Honours

Trivia

References

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.

Barristerial activity

After graduation, Gleeson spent one year as a solicitor at Messrs Murphy & Moloney. Gleeson was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1963, where he read with Laurence Street and Anthony Mason - his future predecessors as Chief Justice of New South Wales and Chief Justice of Australia respectively.
His appearances as junior counsel focussed mainly on matters of taxation and commercial law, as well as important constitutional cases including Strickland v Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd, which concerned the scope of the corporations power.
Upon his appointment as Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1974, Gleeson's career as senior counsel continued to focus on commercial and constitutional matters. However he also appeared in some high profile criminal cases, including his successful defence before a jury of National Party MP Ian Sinclair in 1980. Gleeson 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]

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.

Other appointments

Gleeson was the Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales 1989 - 1998.

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.

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]

References

1. Murray Gleeson - Law Student
2. Stand by as Roddy comes off the bench Richard Ackland
3. Torture debate: Chief Justice lays down law Marian Wilkinson
4. A Core Value, Annual Colloquium, Judicial Conference of Australia
5. Kate Halfpenny. "Under the Gun". ''Who Magazine''. August 8 2000.
6. Howard most powerful