Justin Gleeson

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.

Justin Gleeson

SC
Solicitor-General of Australia
In office
14 February 2013 – 6 November 2016
Appointed byQuentin Bryce
Preceded byStephen Gageler
Succeeded byStephen Donaghue
Personal details
Born
Justin Thomas Gleeson

(1961-04-09) 9 April 1961
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
University of Oxford
OccupationBarrister,
Solicitor-General of Australia

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, 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]

Following his resignation, Gleeson rejoined private practice and returned to Banco Chambers, the chambers that he founded.[7] In addition to acting as counsel in domestic courts, Gleeson is also currently working as an international arbitrator.[7]

In September 2017, Gleeson joined the legal team of Tony Windsor, led by Ron Merkel QC, in the High Court case Re: Joyce, one of the seven cases constituting the 2017 Australian constitutional crisis.[8]

Personal life

Justin is married to academic and author Dr Bernadette Brennan. They have two daughters. His father is Gerald Gleeson AC, a former senior public servant in the Labor Government in New South Wales. One of his brothers, Fabian Gleeson, is a judge on the New South Wales Court of Appeal.[9] His father-in-law is former High Court Chief Justice Sir Gerard Brennan. His elder daughter is author Madeline Gleeson.[10]

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. "Appointment of Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth" (PDF). nswbar.asn.au. The Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  3. Ackland, Richard (29 October 2016). "Solicitors-general support Justin Gleeson in argument with George Brandis". The Saturday Paper.
  4. "Federation Press - Author: Justin T Gleeson".
  5. Gleeson, Justin (24 October 2016). "Letter to the Attorney-General" (PDF). Letter to George Brandis, Attorney-General of the Commonwealth. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  6. Tingle, Laura (24 October 2016). "Solicitor-General resigns citing irreconcilable differences with George Brandis". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  7. Butler, Ben (21 July 2017). "Subscribe | theaustralian". www.theaustralian.com.au. The Australian. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  8. Koziol, Michael (22 September 2017). "Clash of the Titans: George Brandis' nemesis Justin Gleeson joins citizenship case against Barnaby Joyce". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  9. "Swearing In Ceremony of the Honourable Justice Fabian Gleeson SC" (PDF). 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  10. Gadfly, The Saturday Paper, 14–20 May 2016, p. 17
Government offices
Preceded by
Stephen Gageler		 Solicitor-General of Australia
2013–2016		 Succeeded by
Stephen Donaghue
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