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.
Selden Society lecture series Australia
Law and politics in McCawley's case
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Supreme Court Library Queensland
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Season 2
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Episode 4
The appointment of Thomas William McCawley to the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1917 was a decision destined to provoke controversy. The challenge to his appointment was based on what were called 'purely legal and constitutional grounds', but personal motives, partisan manoeuvring and ideological goals were never far from the surface.
The case was heard by the Supreme Court, the High Court of Australia and ultimately the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, and involved several layers of constitutional controversy.
McCawley ultimately won the case and was soon after appointed Chief Justice. Sadly, he did not live long to enjoy it—he died three years later while rushing to catch a train at Roma Street Station.