Attorney-General Announces Solicitor-General Appointment; New Federal Judges
Thursday 15 December 2016 @ 9.47 a.m. | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure | Legal Research
The Attorney-General has announced the appointment of Dr Stephen Donaghue QC as Australia’s new Solicitor-General, following the resignation of Justin Gleeson SC. Mr Gleeson resigned in October after a controversial dispute with Attorney-General George Brandis over a ministerial direction which would have required all requests for legal advice to go through the Attorney-General’s office. The Governor-General has now accepted the advice of the Government to appoint Dr Donaghue as his replacement. He will commence his five year term on 16 January 2017.
A media release issued by the Attorney General’s office says:
“Dr Donaghue is a distinguished constitutional lawyer and has frequently appeared as senior counsel before the High Court of Australia in constitutional and other public law cases. His practice has involved complex and high profile matters across a broad range of legal areas.
In 2001, Dr Donaghue was called to the Victorian Bar and took silk in 2011. He holds a Doctorate of Philosophy from the University of Oxford, and a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.”
The president of the Law Council of Australia, Stuart Clark, welcomed the appointment, telling ABC News:
“Stephen will bring an outstanding legal mind, very considerable experience in the High Court in constitutional matters and a willingness and ability to provide frank and fearless advice to the executive which is absolutely critical… There are, frankly, only a limited number of people that could bring to the job the requisite skill and experience, and Stephen is definitely one of those people, he has the experience, he has the ability, he will do a fine job.”
Appointments to the Federal Court and Federal Circuit Court
The Attorney-General’s office has also issued two media releases announcing the appointment of four new federal judges.
Mr David O’Callaghan QC has been appointed to the Federal Court of Australia and will commence in the Melbourne registry on 1 February 2017. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Laws from Yale University.
Dr Robert Harper SC has been appointed to the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and will commence in the Sydney Registry on 18 January 2017. He has a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Sydney, has completed a Doctor of Philosophy, and is an accredited mediator.
Mr Anthony Kelly QC has been appointed to the Federal Circuit Court and will commence in the Melbourne Registry on 6 February 2017. He has a Certificate from the Council of Legal Education, RMIT University, and has worked as an articled clerk, a solicitor and a barrister.
Ms Amanda Tonkin has been appointed to the Federal Circuit Court and will commence in the Canberra Registry on 1 January 2017. She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney and has worked as Assistant Parliamentary Counsel, a prosecutor with the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions and as a barrister.
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