Leading barrister Glenn Martin SC appointed to Qld Supreme Court

Former Australian Bar Association president and leading Brisbane barrister Glenn Martin SC has been appointed to the bench of Queensland’s Supreme Court, Attorney-General and Justice Minister Kerry Shine said today.

Mr Shine said Justice Martin had made an enormous contribution to the legal profession within Australia and overseas over 20 years, and he will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Supreme Court.

“An appointment to the Supreme Court of Queensland is an honour bestowed on distinguished men and women. Justice Martin’s extended service to the law in Queensland, around Australia and overseas qualifies him well to be appointed to the Supreme Court,” Mr Shine said.

“Justice Martin was one of the inaugural chairs of the International Council of Advocates and Barristers. The Council supports independent observers at trials in countries where lawyers or judges are subject to oppression.”

“Since 2004, he has been a trustee of the Edinburgh Trust and he has actively worked to support legal practitioners in Zimbabwe whose lives and practices have been threatened by the current regime in that country.”

“As a barrister, he had a civil practice concentrating on employment, administrative and constitutional law. He has appeared in the High Court, Supreme Court, Federal Court and various Commonwealth and State tribunals.”

In addition, Justice Martin has been admitted to the Solomon Islands where he appeared before the Supreme Court in the 1980s on behalf of the then Prime Minister and Attorney-General.

Justice Martin has been admitted in Western Australia and the Northern Territory and he has appeared in the Supreme Court of those jurisdictions.

Mr Shine said Justice Martin has provided extensive service to the profession. He served as Australian Bar Association president (2006-07), its vice-president (2005-06) and treasurer (2002-05). Justice Martin served as president of the Bar Association of Queensland (2003-05).

In 2002, Justice Martin was appointed an inaugural member of the Supreme Court History Program Sub-Committee.

Justice Martin was admitted as a barrister in 1979 and appointed Senior Counsel in 1998.

Mr Shine said Justice Martin’s appointment was approved by Executive Council today, and his appointment fills the vacancy left by the elevation of Justice John Muir to a new position on the Court of Appeal last month.

30 August 2007
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3239 6400 or 0418 197 350
kirby.anderson@ministerial.qld.gov.au