Bernard Sugerman
Encyclopedia
Bernard Sugerman was an Australian barrister, legal scholar and judge.
, New South Wales. His mother, Florrie née Green, died in 1905 and his father, Solomon Ruben Sugerman, a commercial traveller from Scotland, remarried in 1907.
Sugerman attended Kogarah public school and Sydney Boys' High School and gained an exhibition to the University of Sydney where he enrolled in law. He was the Wigram Allen scholar 1922, Pitt Cobbet Prizeman 1922, John George Dalley Prizeman 1925 and joint University Medallist 1925 being graduated LLB 1st Class Honours in 1925.
. His practice grew slowly and he was appointed KC in October 1943 after which he began to be briefed in important constitutional cases before the High Court of Australia. He had been one of the Commonwealth's advisers at the 1942 Constitutional Convention.
He became the first editor (1927-46) of the Australian Law Journal
(ALJ), only leaving that post on being elevated to the bench. On the presentation of his portrait to the New South Wales Supreme Court, it was said that the "endurance, renewal and national place of the ALJ is one of his most permanent monuments."
He was editor in chief (1934-39) of the Australian Digest.
He was editor (1942-46), Commonwealth Law Reports
.
to make a full bench to hear the application by trade unions for a shorter standard working week of forty hours.
On completion of that case, he resigned and was appointed to the New South Wales Supreme Court on 10 September 1947. His friend, David Roper was promoted from the Land and Valuation Court to be chief judge in equity and Sugerman took his place in the Land and Valuation Court and assisted in the equity jurisdiction.
Sugerman remained head of the Land and Valuation Court until 1961 but also was called upon to sit in equity and, over time, the Full Court and the Court of Appeal. He sat on the Full Court to hear the landmark New South Wales state constitutional law case of Clayton v Heffron (1960) NSWR 592 where he joined the majority, writing a joint judgment with Chief Justice Evatt.
He was passed over for appointment as first president of the new Court of Appeal in 1965, but he became its second president on 22 January 1970 but ill health led him to retire on 29 September 1972.
Sugerman was active in Sydney's Jewish community.
Sir Bernard Sugerman died on 3 November 1976. His funeral service was at the Great Synagogue, Sydney. His remains were interred at Rookwood. He was survived by his wife, Sarah and two sons, David and Alan.
In 1976, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the University of Sydney.
Early life and education
Bernie Sugerman was born on 5 July 1904 at RockdaleRockdale
Rockdale is the name of several places:United States* Rockdale County, Georgia* Rockdale, Illinois* Rockdale, Indiana* Rockdale, Kentucky* Rockdale , a home on the National Register of Historic Places* Rockdale, New York...
, New South Wales. His mother, Florrie née Green, died in 1905 and his father, Solomon Ruben Sugerman, a commercial traveller from Scotland, remarried in 1907.
Sugerman attended Kogarah public school and Sydney Boys' High School and gained an exhibition to the University of Sydney where he enrolled in law. He was the Wigram Allen scholar 1922, Pitt Cobbet Prizeman 1922, John George Dalley Prizeman 1925 and joint University Medallist 1925 being graduated LLB 1st Class Honours in 1925.
Barrister
He was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 12 March 1926 and went into chambers with his friends David Roper and Alan TaylorAlan Taylor (jurist)
Sir Alan Russell Taylor KBE KC, 25 November 1901 – 3 August 1969) Australian judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia.Taylor was born in 1901 in the city of Newcastle, New South Wales...
. His practice grew slowly and he was appointed KC in October 1943 after which he began to be briefed in important constitutional cases before the High Court of Australia. He had been one of the Commonwealth's advisers at the 1942 Constitutional Convention.
Legal scholar, editor
He lectured at the Sydney Law School (1926-43) on contracts, mercantile law and torts.He became the first editor (1927-46) of the Australian Law Journal
Australian Law Journal
The Australian Law Journal is an Australian peer-reviewed law journal which has been publishing since 1927. Studies have found that it is one of the most cited Australian law journals....
(ALJ), only leaving that post on being elevated to the bench. On the presentation of his portrait to the New South Wales Supreme Court, it was said that the "endurance, renewal and national place of the ALJ is one of his most permanent monuments."
He was editor in chief (1934-39) of the Australian Digest.
He was editor (1942-46), Commonwealth Law Reports
Commonwealth Law Reports
The Commonwealth Law Reports are the authorised reports of decisions of the High Court of Australia. The CLR are published by the Lawbook Company, a division of Thomson Reuters...
.
Judge
Sugerman was appointed to the bench of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and ArbitrationCommonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration
The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration is a defunct Australian court, which had jurisdiction to arbitrate interstate industrial disputes....
to make a full bench to hear the application by trade unions for a shorter standard working week of forty hours.
On completion of that case, he resigned and was appointed to the New South Wales Supreme Court on 10 September 1947. His friend, David Roper was promoted from the Land and Valuation Court to be chief judge in equity and Sugerman took his place in the Land and Valuation Court and assisted in the equity jurisdiction.
Sugerman remained head of the Land and Valuation Court until 1961 but also was called upon to sit in equity and, over time, the Full Court and the Court of Appeal. He sat on the Full Court to hear the landmark New South Wales state constitutional law case of Clayton v Heffron (1960) NSWR 592 where he joined the majority, writing a joint judgment with Chief Justice Evatt.
He was passed over for appointment as first president of the new Court of Appeal in 1965, but he became its second president on 22 January 1970 but ill health led him to retire on 29 September 1972.
Community work
He was a council-member (1939-43) of the New South Wales Bar Association and deputy-president (1941-43) of the Solicitors Admission Board.Sugerman was active in Sydney's Jewish community.
Personal and family life
At the Great Synagogue, Sydney, on 4 January 1928 he married Sarah Rosenblum, a schoolteacher from South Africa.Sir Bernard Sugerman died on 3 November 1976. His funeral service was at the Great Synagogue, Sydney. His remains were interred at Rookwood. He was survived by his wife, Sarah and two sons, David and Alan.
Awards and honours
In 1970, he was made a knight bachelor in the Queen's Birthday honours list.In 1976, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the University of Sydney.