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| The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG |
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When he retired from the High Court of Australia on 2 February 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia’s longest serving judge. He was first appointed in 1975 as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation & Arbitration Commission. Soon after, he was seconded as inaugural Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84). Later, he was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, concurrently, the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands. His appointment to the High Court came in 1996 and he served thirteen years. In later years, he was Acting Chief Justice of Australia twice. In addition to his judicial duties, Michael Kirby served on three university governing bodies being elected Chancellor of Macquarie University in Sydney (1984-93). He also served on many national and international bodies. Amongst the latter have been service as a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Commission on AIDS (1988-92); President of the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva (1995-8); as UN Special Representative Human Rights in Cambodia (1993-6); a member of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee (1995-2005); a member of the High Commissioner for Human Rights’ Judicial Reference Group (2007-) and a member of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights (2004-). Since his judicial retirement, Michael Kirby was elected President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia from 2009-2010. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Laws of Australia. He has been appointed Honorary Visiting Professor by twelve universities. And he participates regularly in many local and international conferences and meetings. He has been awarded eighteen honorary doctorates. In 2010, he was awarded the Gruber Justice Prize. He is also presently a member of the Eminent Persons Group which is investigating the future of the Commonwealth of Nations; and has been appointed to the UNDP Global Commission of HIV and the Law. In 2010, he was appointed to the Australian Panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank). |
Comments
Wishing you the very best for the next stage in your life, post High Court. I hope that you can continue to serve our country well. A number of my colleagues in the Tax Office and I found your judgment on sham in the Raftland decision last year to be very instructive!! The advice you gave me in your letter congratulating me on my appointment to the Tax Office in 1999 has been a source of inspiration and encouragment on many occasions.
Kind regards,
Dan Frisby
It is to be fervently hoped that his abilities, including a wonderful clarity of mind, are not lost to public view.
Will Lowes
Shine on.
As a post graduate law student I hold you to be not only one of the best legal minds in this country but certainly a role model not just for anyone else wanting to follow your footsteps but on how to live a model life.
you are an inspiration to all of us.
All the best with the next chapter in your very rich life.
Ocholamero Loroto
May I draw upon your legal experience & knowledge , I am of the
opinion that an individuals name should not be made public
until they are convicted & proven guilty of the said offence.
Do you think that this is a reasonable request and if so
Will this ever occur in Australia
Cheers
It was a sort of dream come true, when I had the privlige to meet you today at Campsie library. Your valued thoughts and opinions are always inspiring and much sought after in my pursuit towards'Justice for all'.
Kind regards
Mukesh Mahajan
Tenants' Advocate
Sothern Sydney Tenants' Advice and Advocacy Service
Can I have your mail ID. Iam a lawyer known to Justice Bhalla, Chandigarh High Court.Now Iam in Canberra.
Thanks.
Kiran
amazing - i think this country (india) could use you as a supreme court judge, you are much better than any of them!
I am proud of you that being gold medlist in LLM from Panjab University,you joined as Advocate in sydney. congrtulation. yours valued thoughts will inspired the Australian, thanks.
You are a great man, full of wisdom and great charm. Many people love you for being who you are. All the best, Louise
I think I must have been the only person to address you 'Michael' during the screening of your documentary in Sydney library (My lecturer told me "I can't believe you have just called him Michael").
Anyway, I have just read your judgement in Fardon, and YOU ROCK!!
Look forward to meeting you again and hopefully I could get you to sign your book this book!
having just watched your documentary I felt I'd like to thank you for pursuing a public life with such a focus on human rights. I work to ensure people's human rights and you are an inspiration.
Kind regards,