| The Honourable Tom Bathurst |
|
|---|---|
| 17th Chief Justice of New South Wales | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 June 2011 |
|
| Nominated by | Barry O'Farrell |
| Appointed by | Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia |
| Preceded by | James Spigelman |
| 21st Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 1 June 2011 |
|
| Preceded by | James Spigelman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 March 1948 Richmond, Surrey, England |
| Nationality | Australian |
Thomas Frederick Bathurst QC (born 17 March 1948) is an Australian judge. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales from 1 June 2011.
Contents |
Thomas Frederick Bathurst was born 17 March 1948 in Richmond, Surrey, England. His father, Hugh Moxon Bathurst had been private secretary to Senator James Fraser, Chifley's Health minister, when his engagement to tennis champion Joan Marcia Hartigan was announced.[1] They married at St Mary's Cathedral, Sydney on Saturday, 12 April 1947 before flying to Perth to board the Orion for England where they planned to live for a few years while Joan resumed her tennis career at Wimbledon.[2][3] It was during their three years in Surrey that Tom was born.
In 1950, Tom returned with his parents on the Strathmore after living in Surrey and settled in Sydney.[4]
Bathurst was educated at St. Ignatius' College, Riverview.
In 1969 he was graduated Bachelor of Arts by The University of Sydney and in 1972 the degree of Bachelor of Laws was conferred upon him by the same university.[5]
Bathurst was admitted as a solicitor in NSW in 1972 and joined the Sydney city firm of E J (Ernest) Kirby & Co. where his mentor was Ann Plotke.[6]
In 1977 he was called to the NSW Bar, being appointed Queen's Counsel in 1987. His primary areas of practice at the bar included appellate work in banking law, commercial law and equity. He was president of the Australian Bar Association from 2008 to 2009, and president of the NSW Bar Association from 2010 until 2011.[7]
Bathurst appeared for AWA Limited in Daniels v Anderson (1995) 37 NSWLR 438, a leading Australian case on the duties of non-executive directors.[6][7]
Bathurst was briefed by Dyson Heydon QC in Heydon v NRMA Ltd (2000) 51 NSWLR 1 in a successful appeal against a finding that Heydon was negligent in giving legal advice to the respondent company, an important case concerning a barrister's liability for professional advice.[6][7]
Bathurst appeared before the High Court of Australia in Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 126, a case which reviewed the scope of the common law doctrine of restraint of trade.[7]
On the recommendation of the NSW government, NSW Governor Marie Bashir appointed Bathurst Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales, effective 1 June 2011.[8]
Bathurst is married to Robyn, with whom he has two daughters, Emma and Sophie. At the time of his commission as Chief Justice, Emma was a solicitor with Mallesons Stephen Jaques on secondment to a refugee organisation, and Sophie was a PhD student at Oxford.[9]
His social interests are described as rugby, tennis, opera and travel.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Spigelman |
Chief Justice of New South Wales 2011 – present |
Incumbent |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by James Spigelman |
Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales 2011 – present |
Incumbent |