Keith Aickin
Encyclopedia
Sir Keith Arthur Aickin KBE QC (1 February 1916–18 June 1982, age 66), Australia
n judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia
.
Aickin was born in Melbourne
in 1916, and was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
. He also studied at the University of Melbourne
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (with honours) and later a Master of Laws. He also received the Supreme Court of Victoria
's Prize in Law.
From 1939 to 1941, Aickin worked as associate to High Court Justice (later Chief Justice
) Owen Dixon
. From 1942 to 1944, Aickin served as part of the Australian legation
to Washington, D.C.
(predecessor of the Embassy of Australia in Washington). In 1948, Aickin joined the legal department of the United Nations
in New York City
, becoming a legal adviser.
On returning to Australia, Aickin lectured at the University of Melbourne, before being admitted to the Victorian Bar
in 1949. In 1957, Aickin was made a Queen's Counsel
. He practised law until he was appointed to the bench of the High Court on 20 September 1976. Later that year he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
. Aickin sat on the bench until his death (following a car accident) in 1982.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
.
Aickin was born in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
in 1916, and was educated at Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
. He also studied at the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (with honours) and later a Master of Laws. He also received the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
's Prize in Law.
From 1939 to 1941, Aickin worked as associate to High Court Justice (later Chief Justice
Chief Justice of Australia
The Chief Justice of Australia is the informal title for the presiding justice of the High Court of Australia and the highest-ranking judicial officer in the Commonwealth of Australia...
) Owen Dixon
Owen Dixon
Sir Owen Dixon, OM, GCMG, KC Australian judge and diplomat, was the sixth Chief Justice of Australia. A justice of the High Court for thirty-five years, Dixon was one of the leading jurists in the English-speaking world and is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever jurist.-Education:Dixon...
. From 1942 to 1944, Aickin served as part of the Australian legation
Legation
A legation was the term used in diplomacy to denote a diplomatic representative office lower than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an Ambassador, a legation was headed by a Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary....
to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
(predecessor of the Embassy of Australia in Washington). In 1948, Aickin joined the legal department of the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, becoming a legal adviser.
On returning to Australia, Aickin lectured at the University of Melbourne, before being admitted to the Victorian Bar
Victorian Bar
The Victorian Bar is the bar association for the Australian State of Victoria. Its members are barristers registered to practice in Victoria. On 19 January 2006, there were 1627 counsel practising as members of the Victorian Bar. Once a barrister has been admitted to practice by the Supreme Court...
in 1949. In 1957, Aickin was made a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He practised law until he was appointed to the bench of the High Court on 20 September 1976. Later that year he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
. Aickin sat on the bench until his death (following a car accident) in 1982.