2014 Law Oration

Magna Carta, common law values and the Constitution

Justice Susan Crennan was appointed in November 2005 to the High Court of Australia, which is both the ultimate appeal court in Australia and the original jurisdiction under the Constitution. She had then served for almost two years as a judge on the Federal Court of Australia. In 2010, her Honour became an Inns of Court Fellow attached to the Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, University College, London.

Before appointment as a judge, Justice Crennan was a barrister for 24 years, 14 of them as Queen's Counsel. After being appointed as Queen's Counsel, Justice Crennan became Chair of the Victorian Bar Council, then President of the Australian Bar Association. She was the first woman to occupy each of those positions. Also, Justice Crennan was for some years a Commonwealth Commissioner for Human Rights.