Catherine Branson

Catherine Margaret Branson AC KC (born 2 May 1948) is a former Australian judge and public servant. She was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 to 2008,[2] and then President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 to 2012.[3]

The Honourable
Catherine Branson
AC KC
Branson in 2011
Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
Assumed office
14 July 2020
Preceded byKevin Scarce
President of the Australian Human Rights Commission
In office
2008–2012
Nominated byKevin Rudd
Preceded byJohn von Doussa
Succeeded byGillian Triggs
Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
In office
16 May 1994 – 13 October 2008
Personal details
Born
Catherine Margaret Rayner

(1948-05-02) 2 May 1948
Terowie, South Australia
Spouse
John Branson
​
(m. 1969)​
[1]
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide
OccupationJudge, lawyer

Early life and education

Branson is the daughter of Max and Barbara Rayner and grew up on a wheat and sheep property near Hallett, South Australia and learned to drive every vehicle including tractors.[1] She went to school at Presbyterian Girls' College before studying at the University of Adelaide. She initially sought to study psychology, but the pathway to that at the time was law or economics.[1] She graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and then a Bachelor of Arts.[4]

Career

In her early twenties, Branson volunteered at a legal aid office near Michigan during an extended trip to the United States.[1] On return to South Australia, Branson initially worked in private practice, then at the South Australian Department of Legal Services in 1977 before moving to the Crown Solicitor's Office in 1978. She was Crown Solicitor of South Australia from 1984-1989,[5] the first woman to be appointed in Australia.[1] Branson had a dual appointment as the Chief Executive officer of the South Australian Attorney-General’s Department, the first woman to be the permanent head of a South Australian government department.[4][6]

Branson practised as a barrister at the South Australian Bar from 1989, practising principally in the areas of administrative and commercial law. Branson was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1992.[4]

Federal Court

In 1994 Branson was appointed a judge of the Federal Court in 1994. Branson was a member of the full court considering an appeal by the Yorta Yorta people concerning their native title claim. Branson was a member of the majority that upheld Justice Olney's finding that the 'tide of history' had 'washed away' any real acknowledgement of traditional laws and any real observance of traditional customs by the Yorta Yorta community.[7] Another high profile case in which Branson was a judge on the full court that unanimously dismissed an appeal by The Wilderness Society concerning approval of the Gunns pulp mill in Tasmania.[8]

Branson was the President of the Australian Institute for Judicial Administration from 1998 to 2000.[4][6]

Branson retired from the Federal Court in 2008.[4]

Australian Human Rights Commission

Branson was the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 until 2012. During her time as president Branson supported a federal charter of human rights, same-sex marriage and opposed mandatory detention for asylum seekers.[4] Branson continued to live in Adelaide, however she had to commute regularly to Sydney and decided to resign 15 months early to spend more time with her husband and elderly parents.[9]

Honours

In 2012 Branson was given an honorary Doctor of Laws by Flinders University, for her 'long and esteemed career in the law' and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University for her support and advocacy for human rights.[4]

In 2018, she was invested as a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in the Queen's Birthday Honours.[10]

In July 2020, Branson was appointed Chancellor of The University of Adelaide.[11]

References
  1. Eccleston, Roy (14 August 2020). "Adelaide Uni's new chancellor Cathy Branson on her career, sexism and why we all need respect". The Advertiser. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. "Former Judges of the Federal Court of Australia". Federal Court of Australia. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  3. "President & Commissioners". Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 17 March 2010.
  4. "Catherine BRANSON QC". Australian Women Lawyers. Retrieved 6 December 2017.
  5. "The Hon Catherine Margaret BRANSON". Federal Court of Australia. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012.
  6. "The Hon. Catherine Branson QC". Australian Human Rights Commission. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.
  7. Members of the Yorta Yorta Aboriginal Community v State of Victoria [2001] FCA 45 (8 February 2001), Federal Court (Full Court).
  8. Wilderness Society Inc v Hon Malcolm Turnbull, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources [2007] FCAFC 175 (22 November 2007), Federal Court (Full Court).
  9. "Human Rights Commission president Catherine Branson to quit post early". The Australia. 10 February 2012.
  10. "Women outnumber men for top gongs on Queen's Birthday honours list for first time". ABC News. 11 June 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  11. "University of Adelaide appoints its 17th Chancellor". Newsroom. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 14 July 2020.

 

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