Kevin O'Leary
Encyclopedia
Kevin Frederick O'Leary QC
(born 19 February 1920) was the second Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
. He was appointed to that position on 12 September 1985 after James Muirhead
had acted in the position following the relocation to Perth
of the Territory's first Chief Justice Sir William Forster
earlier that year.
, New South Wales
and attended the Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
. He commenced studying law at the University of Sydney
and joined the Australian Imperial Forces in 1940 and the Royal Australian Air Force
in 1942. After the war ended, he returned to studying and eventually graduated with Honours in 1948 and was admitted to practice the following year.
where he served with distinction.
He has held many important roles during his career:
Chief Justice O'Leary was appointed as an Acting Judge of the National Court of Papua New Guinea in 1976 and as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 1982. That appointment was made permanent in 1983. He was elevated to the position of Chief Justice in 1985. He resigned in 1987 due to ill-health and relocated to Western Australia
. He lives in Canberra
. He was appointed as a Queen's Counsel
in the Northern Territory immediately following his retirement.
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...
(born 19 February 1920) was the second Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Northern Territory
The title of Chief Justice of the Northern Territory refers to the highest judicial position in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. The position is currently held by Trevor Riley.-History of the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory:...
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
. He was appointed to that position on 12 September 1985 after James Muirhead
James Muirhead
James Henry Muirhead AC KStJ QC was an Administrator of the Northern Territory and a Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.-Pre-Northern Territory:...
had acted in the position following the relocation to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
of the Territory's first Chief Justice Sir William Forster
William Forster (judge)
Sir William Edward Stanley Forster was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory holding that position from 1979 to 1985...
earlier that year.
Education and early life
Chief Justice O'Leary was born in SydneySydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and attended the Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham , is a Roman Catholic, day school for boys, located in Lewisham, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. He commenced studying law at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
and joined the Australian Imperial Forces in 1940 and the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
in 1942. After the war ended, he returned to studying and eventually graduated with Honours in 1948 and was admitted to practice the following year.
Legal Career and other interests
Chief Justice O'Leary practised as a barrister and solicitor in Sydney and established the firm of Colreavy and O'Leary. He was called to the Bar in 1957 and relocated to the Australian Capital TerritoryAustralian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
where he served with distinction.
He has held many important roles during his career:
- Lecturer, Practice and Procedure and the Australian National UniversityAustralian National UniversityThe Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(1964-1982) - Vice-President, Law Society of the Australian Capital Territory (1965-1967)
- President (1967-1970)
- Member, Executive of the Law Council of AustraliaLaw Council of AustraliaThe Law Council of Australia is an association of law societies and bar associations from the States and territories of Australia, and the peak body representing the legal profession in Australia. The Council was formed in 1933 to unite the various state legal associations, in order to represent...
(1969-1976)- Vice President (1972-1974)
- President (1974-1976)
- Vice President (1972-1974)
- First Chair, Australian Legal Education Council from (1977-1981)
- Founding Director, Legal Workshop at the Faculty of Law at the Australian National University (1971-1982)
- Elected, Honorary Member of the American Bar Association (1976)
Chief Justice O'Leary was appointed as an Acting Judge of the National Court of Papua New Guinea in 1976 and as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 1982. That appointment was made permanent in 1983. He was elevated to the position of Chief Justice in 1985. He resigned in 1987 due to ill-health and relocated to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. He lives in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. He was appointed as 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...
in the Northern Territory immediately following his retirement.
Publications
- Principles of Practice and Procedure (with A. E. Hogan) (1976)
- Supreme Court Civil Procedure (1987)