Michael Barker (judge)
Encyclopedia
Michael Laurence Barker is an Australia
n judge. He has been a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
since February 2009. He previously served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia
and as President of the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal.
Barker studied at the University of Western Australia
and was admitted to practice in 1973. He practiced in Perth
for several years, before undertaking postgraduate study at York University
in Canada
. He returned to Australia in 1981, and was a member of the faculty of law at the Australian National University
in Canberra
from 1981 to 1985. Barker returned to practice in Perth in 1986. While a practicing barrister, he served a term as counsel assisting the WA Inc Royal Commission
in 1991-1992, and spent four years as Chairman of the Western Australian Town Planning Appeals Tribunal from 1990 to 1994. He was appointed as a Queens Counsel in 1996.
Barker was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia
in 2002, replacing retired judge Henry Wallwork, and was further appointed to head the State Administrative Tribunal in 2004. He was appointed to the Federal Court in February 2009, following the appointment of veteran Perth-based judge Robert French
as Chief Justice of the High Court.
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. He has been a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
since February 2009. He previously served as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia
Supreme Court of Western Australia
The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters , and hears the most serious criminal matters.The Supreme Court consists of a General Division The Supreme Court of Western...
and as President of the Western Australian State Administrative Tribunal.
Barker studied at the University of Western Australia
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia was established by an Act of the Western Australian Parliament in February 1911, and began teaching students for the first time in 1913. It is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia and the only university in the state to be a member of the...
and was admitted to practice in 1973. He practiced in 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....
for several years, before undertaking postgraduate study at York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He returned to Australia in 1981, and was a member of the faculty of law at the Australian National University
Australian National University
The 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...
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...
from 1981 to 1985. Barker returned to practice in Perth in 1986. While a practicing barrister, he served a term as counsel assisting the WA Inc Royal Commission
WA Inc
WA Inc was a political scandal in Western Australia. In the 1980s, the state government, which was led for much of the period by premier Brian Burke, engaged in business dealings with several prominent businessmen, including Alan Bond, Laurie Connell and Warren Anderson...
in 1991-1992, and spent four years as Chairman of the Western Australian Town Planning Appeals Tribunal from 1990 to 1994. He was appointed as a Queens Counsel in 1996.
Barker was appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia
Supreme Court of Western Australia
The Supreme Court of Western Australia is the highest state court in the Australian State of Western Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters , and hears the most serious criminal matters.The Supreme Court consists of a General Division The Supreme Court of Western...
in 2002, replacing retired judge Henry Wallwork, and was further appointed to head the State Administrative Tribunal in 2004. He was appointed to the Federal Court in February 2009, following the appointment of veteran Perth-based judge Robert French
Robert French
Robert Shenton French, AC is Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy....
as Chief Justice of the High Court.