Justin Gleeson | |
---|---|
Solicitor-General of Australia | |
In office 14 February 2012 – 6 November 2016 | |
Appointed by | Quentin Bryce |
Preceded by | Stephen Gageler |
Succeeded by | Stephen Donaghue |
Personal details | |
Born | Justin Thomas Gleeson 9 April 1961 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Alma mater |
University of Sydney University of Oxford |
Occupation |
Barrister, Solicitor-General of Australia |
Justin Thomas Gleeson SC (born 9 April 1961 [1]) is an Australian lawyer and former Solicitor-General of Australia, [2] the Commonwealth's second-ranking law officer.
Gleeson was educated at St Patrick's College, Strathfield, [1] then the University of Sydney, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (University Medal [3] and First-Class Honours). [4] Gleeson undertook postgraduate studies in the law at the University of Oxford, where he earned a Bachelor of Civil Law. [2]
Gleeson was appointed Solicitor-General in 2012, having acted in that capacity since the departure of Stephen Gageler the previous year. Prior to his appointment, Gleeson was the Head of Banco Chambers.
Following a disagreement with the Commonwealth Attorney-General, George Brandis, about a direction made by the Attorney-General which restricted access to the Solicitor-General, Gleeson announced that he would resign with effect from 7 November 2016. In his resignation letter, Gleeson stated that his relationship with the Attorney-General was "irretrievably broken". [5] [6]
Following his resignation, Gleeson rejoined private practice and returned to Banco Chambers, the chambers that he founded. [7] In addition to acting as counsel in domestic courts, Gleeson is also currently working as an international arbitrator. [7]
In September 2017, Gleeson joined the legal team of Tony Windsor, led by Ron Merkel QC, in the High Court case Re: Joyce, one of the seven cases constituting the 2017 Australian constitutional crisis. [8]
Justin is married to academic and author Dr Bernadette Brennan. They have two daughters Madeline and Caitlin. His father is Gerald Gleeson AC, a former senior public servant in the Labor Government in New South Wales. One of his brothers, Fabian Gleeson, is a judge on the New South Wales Court of Appeal. [9] His father-in-law is former High Court Chief Justice Sir Gerard Brennan. His elder daughter is author Madeline Gleeson. [10]
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