Richard White (New South Wales judge)
Encyclopedia
Richard Weeks White is a judge
of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
.
and attended Newington College
(1967-72). He graduated from the University of Sydney with First-Class Honours in Law (1977), and the University Medal
.
to a partner, William Gummow, now a Justice of the High Court of Australia
. From 1977-1978 White was an associate to Sir Nigel Bowen
, the first Chief Justice
of the Federal Court of Australia
. White joined Stephen Jaques and Stephen
in 1979 and became a member of the firm in 1982.
In 1986, White was called to the NSW Bar
and was appointed appointed Senior Counsel
in 1998.
In 2000 White was nominated as the New South Wales Bar Association's representative to the Board of the College of Law. During a four-year term he served as chair of the Finance and Administration Committee and was a member of the Practical Legal Training, Audit and Building Committees. White was one of the counsel assisting in the HIH Royal Commission
. In 18 years at the bar he established an extensive commercial practice on the 7th floor of Wentworth Chambers.
White was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
in 2004.
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
.
Early life and education
White 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...
and attended Newington College
Newington College
Newington College is an independent, Uniting Church, day and boarding school for boys, located in Stanmore, an inner-western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
(1967-72). He graduated from the University of Sydney with First-Class Honours in Law (1977), and the University Medal
University Medal
A University Medal is one of several different types of awards, bestowed by universities upon outstanding students or members of staff. The usage and status of university medals differ between countries.-As award on graduation:...
.
Career
In 1975 White was articled at Allen Allen and HemsleyAllens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
to a partner, William Gummow, now 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...
. From 1977-1978 White was an associate to Sir Nigel Bowen
Nigel Bowen
Sir Nigel Hubert Bowen, AC, KBE was an Australian politician and judge.-Biography:Bowen was born in a log cabin in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, of Welsh and English parents. He came to Australia as a boy and was educated for two years in England and later at The King's School in Parramatta...
, the first 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...
. White joined Stephen Jaques and Stephen
Mallesons Stephen Jaques
Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.-Offices:...
in 1979 and became a member of the firm in 1982.
In 1986, White was called to the NSW Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
and was appointed appointed Senior Counsel
Senior Counsel
The title of Senior Counsel or State Counsel is given to a senior barrister or advocate in some countries, typically equivalent to the title "Queen's Counsel" used in Commonwealth Realms...
in 1998.
In 2000 White was nominated as the New South Wales Bar Association's representative to the Board of the College of Law. During a four-year term he served as chair of the Finance and Administration Committee and was a member of the Practical Legal Training, Audit and Building Committees. White was one of the counsel assisting in the HIH Royal Commission
HIH Insurance
HIH Insurance was Australia's second largest insurance company. It was placed into provisional liquidation on 15 March 2001. The demise of HIH is considered to be the largest corporate collapse in Australia's history, with liquidators estimating that HIH's losses totalled up to $5.3 billion...
. In 18 years at the bar he established an extensive commercial practice on the 7th floor of Wentworth Chambers.
White was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
in 2004.