John Toohey (judge) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Toohey
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| Justice of the High Court of Australia | |
| In office 6 February 1987 – 2 February 1998 |
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| Nominated by | Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | Lionel Murphy |
| Succeeded by | Ian Callinan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 4 March 1930 Western Australia |
| Died | 9 April 2015 (aged 85) Western Australia |
| Spouse |
Loma Buckenara
(m. 1953) |
John Leslie Toohey was a very important Australian judge. He was a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1987 to 1998. He was born on March 4, 1930, and passed away on April 9, 2015. He was known for his work in law and his dedication to justice.
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Early Life and Education
John Toohey was born in rural Western Australia on March 4, 1930. He was the oldest of four children. He went to St. Louis School in Perth, which is now called John XXIII College.
He studied law and arts at the University of Western Australia. He was a brilliant student. In 1950, he finished his law degree with top honors. He also earned an arts degree with top honors in 1956.
Legal Career Highlights
After university, John Toohey started working at a law firm in Perth. He became a legal practitioner in 1952. This means he was officially allowed to practice law.
He quickly became well-known in Western Australia. He was very good at understanding tax and property laws. At just 31, he argued a case in the High Court of Australia.
From 1957 to 1958, he taught law at the University of Western Australia. He was especially famous for his lessons on property law. He also taught as a visiting lecturer for many years.
In 1966, Toohey started working as an independent lawyer. This means he worked for himself, not for a firm. In 1968, he was given the special title of Queen's Counsel. This title is given to experienced lawyers who are highly respected.
By the early 1970s, he was very busy with many cases. He worked on criminal law, contract law, and property law. He also led important legal groups. He was president of the Western Australian Bar Association and the Law Society of Western Australia.
Helping Aboriginal Communities
A very important part of John Toohey's career was helping Aboriginal people. In 1974, he helped set up a legal office in Port Hedland. This office was part of the Aboriginal Legal Service. It provided legal help to Aboriginal communities.
In 1975, he represented the Skull Creek Aboriginal Community. This was during a big investigation called the Laverton Royal Commission. The commission looked into clashes between police and Aboriginal people. The report from the commission supported the Aboriginal people's side of the story. It found that the police could not justify their arrests.
Judicial Career and Important Roles
In 1977, John Toohey became a judge. He was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia. At the same time, he also became a judge for the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. In 1980, he joined the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. This group reviews government decisions.
Aboriginal Land Commissioner
Also in 1977, Toohey was given a very special role. He became the first-ever Aboriginal Land Commissioner. He held this position until 1982. In this role, he listened to claims for land rights from Aboriginal groups. These claims were made under a law called the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act.
As Commissioner, he had wide powers to make decisions. His decisions could even be appealed directly to the High Court. His work in this role was very important for Indigenous land rights in Australia.
After his time as Commissioner, he returned to Perth. He worked full-time as a Federal Court judge.
High Court of Australia Justice
In 1987, John Toohey was appointed to the High Court of Australia. This is the highest court in Australia. He replaced Justice Lionel Murphy. He was sworn in on February 6, 1987. On the same day, Sir Anthony Mason became the Chief Justice. Mary Gaudron also became a Justice.
He was part of what was known as the Mason Court. This group of judges worked together for many years. They made many important decisions for Australia.
John Toohey retired from the High Court in February 1998. Even after retiring, he continued to serve as a judge. He worked in the judicial systems of Kiribati and Fiji. He also became a Visiting Professor in Law at the University of Western Australia.
In 2000, he was chosen for a very important international role. He became one of three independent members of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. This inquiry investigated events that happened in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1972.
John Toohey passed away peacefully at his home on April 9, 2015.
Honours and Awards
John Toohey received many awards for his service.
- In 1986, he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.
- In 1988, this was raised to a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This is a very high honor.
- Also in 1988, he received an honorary doctorate in laws from Murdoch University in Perth.
- In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal.
