Anne Ferguson (judge) explained

Honorific-Prefix:The Honourable Chief Justice
Anne Ferguson
Order:12th
Office:Chief Justice of Victoria
Term Start:2 October 2017
Appointer:Linda Dessau
Predecessor:Marilyn Warren
Office2:Judge of the Victorian Court of Appeal
Term Start2:12 August 2014
Office3:Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Term Start3:3 May 2010
Education:Monash University
University of Southampton
Spouse:Kim Hargrave
Nominator:Martin Pakula

Anne Ferguson is an Australian judge and former lawyer who has served as Chief Justice of Victoria since 2 October 2017. She was first appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court in 2010.

Early life

Ferguson was educated at the Brigidine SistersKillester College in Springvale where she was academic dux. She studied Arts and Law at Monash University, winning the Supreme Court Prize as the top student in her graduating class.[1] Ferguson was also appointed Editor of the Monash University Law Review.[2]

In 1989, she graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Law from the University of Southampton. Her thesis was on unfair contracts.[3]

Legal career

Prior to her judicial appointments she worked as a litigator at J.M. Smith & Emmerton and Allens Arthur Robinson. She also previously served as Honorary Secretary to the Council of Legal Education, one of only 5 people to ever hold the position in the organization's 100-year history.[4] [5]

Judicial office

Ferguson was first appointed a judge of the Trial Division of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2010. In 2014, she was made a Judge of the Court of Appeal.[6]

In August 2017, Ferguson was named as the next chief justice of Victoria, succeeding Marilyn Warren.[7] Ferguson took office in October 2017. In her role as chief justice, Ferguson is chair of the Judicial Commission of Victoria.

In 2019, Ferguson heard the high profile County Court appeal of Cardinal George Pell against his conviction for the commission of sexual offences. Ferguson concurred with the Court of Appeal 2–1 majority rejecting the appeal, which was subsequently overruled by the High Court.[8] [9]

Personal life

Ferguson is married to fellow Supreme Court judge, Justice Kim Hargrave.[10]

References

 

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Victorian Bar congratulates the Honourable Justice Anne Ferguson on her appointment as Chief Justice | Victorian Bar.
  2. Web site: Alumni - Faculty of Law . www.monash.edu . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20170504210659/http://www.monash.edu/law/news-and-events/publications/monlr/alumni . 2017-05-04.
  3. Web site: Southampton_Postgraduate_appointed_Supreme_Court_Judge_in_Victoria | Southampton Law School | University of Southampton.
  4. Web site: Welcome the Honourable Justice Anne Ferguson . October 4, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819142419/http://www.liv.asn.au/Practice-Resources/News-Centre/Speeches/Speeches-2010/Welcome-to-the-Honourable-Justice-Anne-Ferguson.aspx?rep=1&glist=0&sdiag=0 . August 19, 2014 .
  5. Web site: Appointments to Victoria's Court of Appeal and Supreme Court . August 16, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809120249/http://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/home/contact+us/news/ . August 9, 2014 . dead .
  6. Web site: Judges.
  7. News: Boseley. Matilda. Next chief justice named with Anne Ferguson to succeed Marilyn Warren in top job. 27 September 2017. The Age. 8 August 2017.
  8. News: George Pell Victorian Court of Appeal judgment summary transcript. ABC News. 21 August 2019. 23 April 2020.
  9. Web site: Judgement Summary: Pell v The Queen [2020] HCA 12]. High Court of Australia. 7 April 2020. 23 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Dessau. Linda. Swearing in of Chief Justice Anne Ferguson. Governor of Victoria. 21 November 2017.