Former Chief Justices return to the bench for UQ moot court opening

Two former Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia will return to the bench briefly with the opening of the newly restored Sir Harry Gibbs Moot Court at The University of Queensland on Friday, July 14.

The moot court opening at the T C Beirne School of Law will be attended by: Sir Gerard Brennan and Sir Harry Gibbs; former University Chancellor, Queensland Governor and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Sir Walter Campbell; and the present Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Paul de Jersey.

Speakers at the dinner afterwards include David Jackson QC and the Honourable Glen Williams - Sir Harry's first associates.

T C Beirne School of Law Head Professor Tony Tarr said the School had been pleased over the past two years to honour two of its most distinguished graduates - Sir Harry and Sir Gerard.

"We have established a Chair in Law named for Sir Gerard and the moot court in honour of Sir Harry. Both individuals as Chief Justices of the High Court reached the pinnacle of their chosen professional careers," he said.

"We are delighted with the support we have received from the legal profession and the Supreme Court Library Committee in funding and supporting the restoration of the old Supreme Court furniture which now appears in the Sir Harry Gibbs Moot Court, formerly the Banco Court in the old Supreme Court Building

"Photographs of the old court buildings and framed accounts of famous cases conducted before the original Banco Court provide an interesting link between the past and present."

Graduates attending the event hail from the Law School's first 30 years (1938-67) and include Lady Muriel Gibbs (Sir Harry's wife).

The function will begin at 5.30pm in the Walter Harrison Law Library, ground floor, the Forgan Smith Building at the St Lucia campus, and finish at 6.30pm with a dinner in the nearby Fryer Library.

Professor Tarr said four people including the two former Chief Justices would return to the bench, albeit in the moot court, for photographs during the function.

The new moot court will be equipped with videotaping and data facilities.

"Student performances during mooting exercises - from simple pleas through to appellate matters - can be taped and replayed for teaching and learning purposes," Professor Tarr said.

"Data facilities will enable complex matters to be managed through the use of lap-tops in the moot court."

For more information, contact Professor Tony Tarr (telephone 07 3365 1021) or Shirley Glaister in UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2339).