Robert French
Robert Shenton French AC (born 1947) is an Australian lawyer. He is a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia and was Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 2008 to 2017. In 2017 French became an overseas non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal, and was appointed chancellor of the University of Western Australia.
For other people named Robert French, see Robert French (disambiguation).
Robert French
University created
1947 (age 76–77)
Perth, Western Australia
Valerie J. French
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Early life and education[edit]
French was born in Perth, Western Australia,[1] in 1947.[2]
He was educated at St. Louis School (now John XXIII College) in Perth.[3] In 1964 he was one of two students from Western Australia to attend the International Science School, then known as the Nuclear Research Foundation Summer Science School, at the University of Sydney.[4]
French attended the University of Western Australia (UWA) in Perth, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physics in 1968.[5][6][1] He then continued with further study at UWA, earning a Bachelor of Laws in 1971. He said later that he had enrolled in law "with no particular idea of being a lawyer", but after realising that he "was not going to be a great theoretical physicist".[7] He was president of the university's Liberal Club at UWA.[8]
Other roles[edit]
French held a number of other positions during his time as Chief Justice, notably serving as chancellor of Edith Cowan University (1991–1997), chairman of the National Native Title Tribunal (1994–1998), and on the Supreme Court of Fiji (2003–2008).[1] After his retirement from the position, on 20 June 2017, UWA announced French's appointment as its 15th chancellor. He succeeded Michael Chaney AO as chancellor in November 2017.[20][21] He is due to end his term at the end of 2024.[22]
He was part-time Commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2006–2008), Additional Judge of the Supreme Court of the ACT (2004–2008), council member of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration (1992–1998), chancellor of Edith Cowan University (1991–1997), member of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (1986), chairman of the Town Planning Appeals Tribunal of Western Australia (1986), associate member of the Australian Trade Practices Commission (1983–1986), member of the Legal Aid Commission of Western Australia (1983–1986), member of the Barristers' Board of Western Australia (1979–1986), and chairman of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (1973–1975).[3]
Beliefs and positions[edit]
Personal life[edit]
French married Valerie J. French, who completed her LL.B. at UWA in 1971 and has served as the president of the Children's Court of Western Australia.[6][35]
French is a fan of the Fremantle Dockers AFL team,[36] and likes science fiction.[37]