Wednesday, 28 January 2009, Sydney, Australia - The retirement of the Hon. Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG from the High Court of Australia on Monday 2 February 2009, will close a chapter in the extraordinary legal career of one of Australia’s most renowned, most respected – and most controversial – jurists.

To coincide with Justice Kirby’s retirement, Thomson Reuters is proud to launch Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy, a collection of essays penned by more than 40 eminent legal practitioners and academics, celebrating Kirby’s achievements and contributions to the Australian legal system.

Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy will be launched by Sir Anthony Mason, former Chief Justice of the High Court, at the State Library of New South Wales on Thursday 5 February. The launch will feature Justice Kirby in his first post-retirement public address.

Edited by Ian Freckelton SC and Hugh Selby – and with a very personal and irreverent introduction by international lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster Geoffrey Robertson – in this book Kirby’s beliefs and priorities about our law and legal system are revealed, often approved and sometimes criticised, by the 44 contributors.

Regarded variously as eminent scholar, visionary leader, social justice reformist, judicial activist and outspoken dissident, Kirby has served as an appellate judge for more than 25 years, on the High Court bench since 1996 and, prior to that, as President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal.

According to Freckelton and Selby, “In examining his life in the law, it becomes clear that Kirby’s values are reflected not only in his judgments but in his contributions to law reform, his extrajudicial activities and his writing.”

“While the book covers a wide variety of legal topics from Constitutional Law to the Human Genome, the common thread is the exploration of Kirby’s values, how they have evolved, how they have shaped his judgments and interests, and how they have contributed to both the respect and controversy which have been part and parcel of his distinguished career.”

Please note that, due to space restrictions, the Thomson Reuters book launch is by invitation.

About Justice Michael Kirby AC, CMG

Michael Kirby was appointed as a Justice of the High Court of Australia in February 1996, having previously served for 12 years as President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. He also held a commission as Judge of the Federal Court of Australia during 1983 and 1984, and as Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission from 1975 to 1983.

In 1991 Michael Kirby received Australia’s highest civil honour, Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). In the same year, he was awarded the Human Rights Medal by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Michael Kirby had previously been a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1982, for his services to law.

About the Editors

Ian Freckelton SC is a barrister at William Crockett Chambers in Melbourne and a Professor at Monash University.

Hugh Selby teaches practical lawyering and witness skills around Australia and overseas and is based at the Australian National University in Canberra.

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the publisher of Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy. Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. In 2008 Thomson Reuters celebrated 110 years of legal publishing in Australia.

For more information visit: www.thomsonreuters.com.au

Media and Launch Event Enquiries

Michelle Findlay, Thomson Reuters
Telephone: 02 8587 7038
Email: michelle.findlay@thomsonreuters.com

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