Justin Gleeson
| Justin Gleeson SC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Solicitor-General of Australia | |
|
In office 14 February 2013 – 6 November 2016 | |
| Appointed by | Quentin Bryce |
| Preceded by | Stephen Gageler |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Justin Thomas Gleeson 9 April 1961 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Children | 2 |
| 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.
Early life and education
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]
Career
Gleeson was appointed as Solicitor-General in 2013, 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 and about a communication he had with the Shadow Attorney-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]
Personal life
His father is Gerald Gleeson AC, a former senior public servant in New South Wales. One of his brothers, Fabian Gleeson, is a judge on the New South Wales Court of Appeal.[7] His father-in-law is former High Court Chief Justice Sir Gerard Brennan. His elder daughter is author Madeline Gleeson.[8]
References
- 1 2 http://www.banco.net.au/uploads/documents/Justin_Gleeson_SC_long-CV-december_2011_weblinks.pdf[]
- 1 2 "Appointment of Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth" (PDF). nswbar.asn.au. The Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ Ackland, Richard (29 October 2016). "Solicitors-general support Justin Gleeson in argument with George Brandis". The Saturday Paper.
- ↑ "Federation Press - Author: Justin T Gleeson".
- ↑ Gleeson, Justin (24 October 2016). "Letter to the Attorney-General" (PDF) (Letter). Letter to George Brandis, Attorney-General of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ↑ Tingle, Laura (24 October 2016). "Solicitor-General resigns citing irreconcilable differences with George Brandis". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
- ↑ "Swearing In Ceremony of the Honourable Justice Fabian Gleeson SC" (PDF). 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ↑ Gadfly, The Saturday Paper, 14-20 May 2016, p. 17