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5 unusual facts about Australian court hierarchy


Alexander Onslow

Sir Alexander Campbell Onslow (17 July 1842 – 20 October 1908) was the third Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.

Australian court hierarchy

These courts also have appeal divisions, known as the Full Court or Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court (in civil matters), or the Court of Criminal Appeal (in criminal matters.)

Appeals from Australian courts to the Privy Council were initially possible, however the Privy Council (Limitation of Appeals) Act 1968 closed off all appeals to the Privy Council in matters involving federal legislation, and the Privy Council (Appeals from the High Court) Act 1975 closed almost all routes of appeal from the High Court.

The Full Court of the High Court is the ultimate appeal court for Australia.

Roslyn Philp

Sir Roslyn Foster Bowie Philp KBE (27 July 1895 – 19 March 1965) was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of Queensland, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Queensland.


Archibald Burt

Sir Archibald Paull Burt Kt QC (1810 – 21 November 1879) was a British lawyer from the colonies of the West Indies, and was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.

Australian Army Legal Corps

Many members of the Legal Corps have been appointed as Queen's Counsel or Senior Counsel, and a number have been elevated to various Australian courts (including county, district courts, and state supreme courts).

Henry Jickling

Henry Jickling was appointed as a caretaker judge in 1837 to the Supreme Court of South Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of South Australia.

Henry Wrenfordsley

Sir Henry Thomas Wrenfordsley (1825 – 2 June 1908) Kt was an Irish lawyer and was the second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.

Murray Tobias

Murray Herbert Tobias AM, RFD (born 1939) is a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy.

Neville Owen

The Honourable Justice Neville John Owen was a senior judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Western Australia.

Ruth McColl

Ruth Stephanie McColl AO (born 1950) is a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the highest court in the State of New South Wales, Australia, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy.


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