Judicial Profiles
The Hon Robert Shenton French AC
Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia Law School (2016-)
Distinguished Honourary Professor, Australian National University (2016-)
Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia (2008-2017)
Relevant qualifications and honours
| BSc | 1968 | Bachelor of Science (Physics) |
| LLB | 1971 | UWA |
| LLD (Hon) | 1998 | Edith Cowan University |
| 1972 | Admitted as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia | |
| AC | 2010 |
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) For eminent service to the law and to the judiciary, to legal education and administration in the areas of constitutional, competition and native title law, and to legal reform |
| 2001 | Centenary Medal For service as President of the National Native Title Tribunal and as a Federal Court judge |
Relevant work history
- 2008-2017: Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia (1 Sept 2008; retired 29 January 2017)
- 1986-2008: Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (Perth) (apointed 25 November 1986)
- 1994-1998 President of the National Native Title Tribunal (1994-1998)
- Deputy President of the Australian Competition Tribunal
- Part Time Member of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2006-2008)
- 1983-1986: Barrister
- Associate Member of the Trade Practices Commission (1983-86)
- 1972-1983: practiced as a barrister and solicitor in WA
Other positions held
- Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia Law School (October 2016-)
- Distinguished Honourary Professor, Australian National University (August 2016-)
- Australian Competition Tribunal - President (appointed 2008, but appointed Chief Justice of the High Court before taking the position)
- Administrative Appeals Tribunal – Presidential Member
- Supreme Court of Fiji - Non-resident Judge (appointed 2003)
- Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory – Additional Judge (appointed 2004)
Relevant judgments
- ACCC v Flight Centre Travel Group Limited [2016] HCA 49
Agency distribution arrangement/alleged cartel
(Dissenting judgment; held there was no unlwaful price fixing arrangement) - Australian Gas Light Company (ACN 052 167 405) v Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (No. 3) [2003] FCA 1525
Mergers - declaration that merger would not SLC - declaration sought after ACCC refused to provide informal clearance . The decision of Justice French was not appealed. - Stirling Harbour Services Pty Ltd v Bunbury Port Authority [2000] FCA 38; [2000] FCA 1381
- Singapore Airlines Limited v Taprobane Tours WA Pty Ltd [1991] FCA 621
Relevant speeches and publications
- French, 'Local Politics, Global Change and Australia's Competition Law - the Role of the Regulator as Competition Advocate' (Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 5 May 2017)
- Justice French, 'The Role of Courts in Competition Law' (Asian Competition Forum 2015, Hong Kong, 30 November 2015)
- Justice French, The Moving Finger Writes and, Having Writ, Rewrites, Bannerman Lecture, Sydney, 26 February 2015
- Justice French, 'In Hope of Convergence - A Regional Perspective on Competition Law' (2009 Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 23 May 2009)
- Justice French, 'Unleashing the Tiger? Competition Law in China and Hong Kong' (Melbourne Law School, Conference Opening Address, 4 October 2008)
- Justice French, 'Expert testimony, opinion argument and the rules of evidence' (FCA) [2008] FedJSchol 4
- Justice RS French, 'Dolores Umbridge and the Concept of Policy as Legal Magic', Australian Law Teachers' Association, National Conference, Perth, 24 September 2007 (believe it or not his Honour does discuss the TPA and the Melway and Boral cases here and even the 'Birdsville Amendment')
- Justice French, 'Declarations - Homer Simpson's remedy - Is there anything they cannot do?' (30 November 2007) University of Western
Australia - Faculty of Law - Perspectives on Declaratory Relief (includes mention of Part IIIA of the TPA) - Justice French - Horizontal Arrangements - Competition Law and Cooperative Federalism, Competition Law Conference, Sydney, 5 May 2007
- Justice French, 'Authorisation and Public Benefit - Playing with Categories of Meaningless Reference?' (20-21 October 2006),
4th Annual University of South Australia Trade Practices Workshop, Barossa Valley Resort - Justice French - The Role of the Court in Competition Law' (26 February 2005) Workshop on Competition Law for Judges and Lawyers in Papua New Guinea
- Justice French, 'Competition Law – Covering a Multitude of Sins ', Competition Law Conference Sydney (15 May 2004)
- Justice French, 'The Role of the Courts in the Development of Australian Trade Practices Law' (in Frances Hanks and Philip Williams (eds), Trade Practices Act: A twenty-five year stocktake (Federation Press, 2001) (from page 98)
