Michael Black (judge)
Encyclopedia
Michael Eric John Black, AC
, QC
(born 22 March 1940) is a former Chief Justice
of the Federal Court of Australia
.
After attending schools in Australia, Egypt and England, he received further education at Wesley College, Melbourne
. He graduated in law from the University of Melbourne
in 1963 and began practice at the Victorian Bar in 1964. His practice included civil jury actions as well as commercial and public law cases. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel for Victoria in 1980 and for Tasmania in 1984. As Queen's Counsel he specialised in appellate work, including cases in constitutional, commercial and industrial law. One of the constitutional cases was the Tasmanian Dam Case in 1983, where he represented the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
He was appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia on 1 January 1991. As Chief Justice he had, as well as his judicial duties, statutory responsibility for the administration of the Court.
In 1981 he was appointed the Foundation Chairman of the Victorian Bar’s Readers Course, the Bar’s pioneering course of instruction for new barristers, and later served as the representative of the Victorian Bar on the Board of the Leo Cussen Institute for Continuing Legal Education. As Chief Justice he actively supported the Federal Court’s work in the field of judicial education. He was also Chair of the Advisory Committee for introduction of the Juris Doctor Degree at Melbourne Law School.
On Australia Day 1998, he was made a Companion in the Order of Australia
(AC) for service to the law, to the legal profession and to the judiciary. He retired as Chief Justice on 21 March 2010 and was succeeded by the Hon Patrick Keane
.
His interests outside the law include architecture, history and maritime matters.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, QC
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 22 March 1940) is a former Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
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...
.
After attending schools in Australia, Egypt and England, he received further education at Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
. He graduated in law from 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...
in 1963 and began practice at the Victorian Bar in 1964. His practice included civil jury actions as well as commercial and public law cases. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel for Victoria in 1980 and for Tasmania in 1984. As Queen's Counsel he specialised in appellate work, including cases in constitutional, commercial and industrial law. One of the constitutional cases was the Tasmanian Dam Case in 1983, where he represented the Tasmanian Wilderness Society.
He was appointed Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia on 1 January 1991. As Chief Justice he had, as well as his judicial duties, statutory responsibility for the administration of the Court.
In 1981 he was appointed the Foundation Chairman of the Victorian Bar’s Readers Course, the Bar’s pioneering course of instruction for new barristers, and later served as the representative of the Victorian Bar on the Board of the Leo Cussen Institute for Continuing Legal Education. As Chief Justice he actively supported the Federal Court’s work in the field of judicial education. He was also Chair of the Advisory Committee for introduction of the Juris Doctor Degree at Melbourne Law School.
On Australia Day 1998, he was made a Companion in the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AC) for service to the law, to the legal profession and to the judiciary. He retired as Chief Justice on 21 March 2010 and was succeeded by the Hon Patrick Keane
Patrick Keane
-Education:Chief Justice Keane was educated at St. Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, the University of Queensland and at Magdalen College of the University of Oxford...
.
His interests outside the law include architecture, history and maritime matters.