Thomson Reuters Celebrate Achievements of Australia’s Longest-Serving Judge with Free eBook Biopic.

“Appealing to the Future”

  • A unique collection of writings about Justice Kirby
  • Available as a free eBook for the first time
  • 40 academics and leading legal minds contribute

SYDNEY, June, 2012 - leading legal and tax publisher, Thomson Reuters, is celebrating the major achievements and contributions to the Australian legal system of one of the country’s most renowned, and longest-serving, High Court judges, with the free release of an eBook biopic bringing together the perspectives of 40 eminent legal practitioners and academics.

Available free from thomsonreuters.com.au/kirby, “Appealing to the Future” is an exclusive collection of writings and reflections from more than 40 eminent legal practitioners and academics in Australia and beyond, exploring the illustrious career and achievements of The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG, who was first appointed as a judge in 1975.

Each contribution explores an aspect of Justice Kirby’s judicial life, covering both his major contributions to law reform as well as his judicial writings.

When he retired in February 2009, Justice Kirby was Australia’s longest-serving judge. He was first appointed in 1975 as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation & Arbitration Commission. In that time he has taken on numerous high-profile roles including a judge at the Federal Court of Australia, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, as well as twice serving as Acting Chief Justice of Australia. He has also served on numerous national and international bodies, including being a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Commission on Aids, as a UN Special Representative on human Rights in Cambodia and a member of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee.

Justice Kirby, said: “Even for me this book is fascinating reading and allows me to look back on my career from the objectives of other leading legal authorities. It covers a wide variety of legal topics, and reading it I realise a common thread is how my values have shaped my judgments and interests over my career. These have evolved over the years and have ultimately, led to me achieving all I have.”Michael Kirby is Editor in Chief of Thomson Reuters’ legal encyclopedia- The Laws of Australia. Overseeing a team of more than 400 specialist authors and expert Title Editors, he advises on the prioritisation of publishing and the direction of legal developments generally.

About Justice Kirby

When he retired from the High Court of Australia on 2 February 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia's longest serving judge. He was first appointed in 1975 as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation & Arbitration Commission. Soon after, he was seconded as inaugural Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84). Later, he was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, concurrently, the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands. His appointment to the High Court came in 1996 and he served thirteen years. In later years, he was Acting Chief Justice of Australia twice.

In addition to his judicial duties, Michael Kirby served on three university governing bodies being elected Chancellor of Macquarie University in Sydney (1984-93). He also served on many national and international bodies. Amongst the latter have been service as a member of the World Health Organisation's Global Commission on AIDS (1988-92); President of the International Commission of Jurists, Geneva (1995-8); as UN Special Representative Human Rights in Cambodia (1993-6); a member of the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee (1995-2005); a member of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' Judicial Reference Group (2007-) and a member of the UNAIDS Reference Group on HIV and Human Rights (2004-).

Since his judicial retirement, Michael Kirby was elected President of the Institute of Arbitrators & Mediators Australia from 2009-2010. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of The Laws of Australia. He has been appointed Honorary Visiting Professor by twelve universities. And he participates regularly in many local and international conferences and meetings. He has been awarded eighteen honorary doctorates.

In 2010, he was awarded the Gruber Justice Prize. He is also presently a member of the Eminent Persons Group which is investigating the future of the Commonwealth of Nations; and has been appointed to the UNDP Global Commission of HIV and the Law. In 2010, he was appointed to the Arbitration Panel of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (World Bank).

Michael Kirby is Editor in Chief of Thomson Reuters’ legal encyclopedia- The Laws of Australia. Overseeing a team of more than 400 specialist authors and expert Title Editors, he advises on the prioritisation of publishing and the direction of legal developments generally. www.michaelkirby.com.au

About Thomson Reuters

Thomson Reuters is the world's leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We combine industry expertise with innovative technology to deliver critical information to leading decision makers in the financial, legal, tax and accounting, healthcare and science and media markets, powered by the world's most trusted news organization. With headquarters in New York and major operations in London and Eagan, Minnesota, Thomson Reuters employs more than 55,000 people and operates in over 100 countries. For more information, go to www.thomsonreuters.com.

Contact Us

From Australia: 1300 304 195
International: +61 2 8587 7980
Fax: 1300 304 196
LTA.Service@thomsonreuters.com
Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm AEST