Sir Charles Lilley and the Grimley Affair Artwork

Selden Society lecture series Australia

Join a variety of judicial officers, legal professionals and academics for this informative and provocative series of legal history lectures. Each episode presents a single story uncovering a unique aspect of our common law past. This might be literature or language, a fascinating event or item, a significant person, or the development of a legal idea. These lectures are recorded in the Banco Court, Brisbane, and are now available to the world.

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Selden Society lecture series Australia

Sir Charles Lilley and the Grimley Affair

March 11, 2024 • Supreme Court Library Queensland • Season 4 • Episode 35

Sir Charles Lilley (1827–97) was a towering figure in politics and law in colonial Queensland, but his final years were dogged by controversy. 

In October 1892, Sir Charles announced his intention to resign as second Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland (1879–93). The catalyst was his behaviour throughout the 57-day civil trial of Queensland Investment and Land Mortgage Co Ltd v Grimley. Leading up to his resignation, Sir Charles increasingly eschewed norms of judicial detachment. Grimley was the final straw. 

This lecture examines the Grimley affair and considers the extent to which, along with his behaviour in other proceedings of the time, it brought into question Sir Charles’ ethics as a judge.

About the speaker

Dr Sarah McKibbin is a Lecturer in Law at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba, where she teaches, researches and publishes in legal history and private international law. Dr McKibbin is the lead author of A Legal History for Australia (Hart Publishing, 2021).

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