John Doyle (judge)

John Jeremy Doyle, AC, QC (born 4 January 1945), Australian jurist, was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of South Australia, the highest ranking court in the Australian State of South Australia, between 1995 and 2012.

The Honourable John Doyle AC, QC
8th Chief Justice of South Australia
In office 4 May 1995 – 22 June 2012
Preceded by	Len King
Succeeded by	Chris Kourakis
Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
In office 2000–2001
Solicitor-General of South Australia
In office 1986–1995
Preceded by	Malcolm Gray QC
Succeeded by	Bradley Selway QC
Personal details
Born	John Jeremy Doyle (1945-01-04) 4 January 1945 Adelaide, South Australia

Early life and education

Doyle was educated at Saint Ignatius College, South Australia, and was dux of the college in 1962. He went on to graduate in law from the University of Adelaide in 1966 and was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship in 1967, completing his studies in law at Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1969.

Career

In the following year he was admitted to the bar in South Australia.[1]

Before being elevated to the position of chief justice in 1995,[2] Doyle served as the Solicitor-General of South Australia from 1986 to 1995,[3] where he was highly regarded for his skills as an advocate, particularly in complex constitutional cases. On a number of occasions, most recently in 1998, speculation surfaced that he may become the first South Australian to be appointed to the High Court of Australia; however, an appointment never eventuated. He was a founding member of Hanson Chambers and, immediately prior to his move to the independent bar, was a partner at Adelaide law firm, Kelly & Co. [1]

Doyle is a fervent supporter of the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian National Football League.

During his time as Chief Justice, Doyle was appointed as an Acting Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 2000 to hear an appeal concerning the appointment of the then Northern Territory Chief Magistrate Hugh Bradley.[4][5]

On 30 April 2012, Doyle announced his retirement as Chief Justice, which took effect on 22 June 2012. He was succeeded as Chief Justice by Chris Kourakis.[6]

See also

• Judiciary of Australia

References

1. "lumen -- LEGAL TIES that bind". www.adelaide.edu.au.
2. Another Honour for highest Judicial officer in the State Archived 2011-04-06 at the Wayback Machine
3. Appleby, G (2016). Role of the Solicitor-General. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 322. ISBN 9781509903962.
4. "The Honourable John Jeremy Doyle AC - The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory". www.supremecourt.nt.gov.au.
5. Northern Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service Incorporated v Bradley [2000] NTCA 13, Court of Appeal (NT, Australia).
6. "Special sitting marks Chief Justice's retirement". 22 June 2012.

External links

• National Library of Australia Photograph

Legal offices
Preceded by Malcolm Gray QC	Solicitor-General of South Australia 1986 – 1995	Succeeded by Bradley Selway QC
Preceded by Len King	Chief Justice of South Australia 1995 - 2012	Succeeded by Chris Kourakis