William Forster (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Edward Stanley Forster (15 June 1921 - 31 January 1997) was the first Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
holding that position from 1979 to 1985. Before that he was the first (and only) Chief Judge from 1977 to 1979 and Senior Judge from 1971 to 1977, all positions which were effectively the same.
Sir William was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 15 June 1921 and, after moving to Adelaide
in 1929, attended St Peter's College, Adelaide
.
from the University of Adelaide
.
He was in the Royal Australian Air Force
from 1940 to 1946 and was a Magistrate
at the Adelaide Police Court from 1959 to 1961.
Chief Justice Forster was District Registrar of the High Court of Australia
from 1966 to 1971 and before that was District Registrar from 1961 to 1966. He was Master of the Supreme Court of South Australia
from 1966 to 1971 and Deputy Master from 1961 to 1966.
Chief Justice Forster was a Member of the Standing Committee Senate at the Adelaide University from 1967 to 1971, Lecturer
of Law and Procedure at the same time and lecturer of Criminal Law
from 1957 to 1958.
on 28 June 1971 and replaced Justice Blackburn who had taken up appointment with the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
.
After Cyclone Tracy
had destroyed Darwin
in 1974, Justice Forster ensured the Supreme Court
was fully functional by March 1975.
Chief Justice Forster was a Member of the Aboriginal Theatre Foundation from 1972 to 1975 and President of the Northern Territory Division of the Australian Red Cross
from 1973 to 1985. He was also Chairman of the Museum and Galleries Board of the Northern Territory from 1974 to 1985.
Chief Justice Forster was Chairman of the Northern Territory Parole Board from 1976 to 1985 and held a Dormant Commission as Acting Administrator
of the Northern Territory from 1976 to 1985. He was also a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
from 1977 to 1989.
Chief Justice Forster was a champion of the local legal profession and upon his retirement expressed a wish that vacancies on the Bench be filled by local practitioners. Indeed all appointments to the Supreme Court from 1991 (other than that of Chief Justice Brian Ross Martin
in 2004) have been from the local profession.
In 1976, Chief Justice Forster was responsible for the introduction of the 'Anunga Rules' which, established guidelines for the interrogation of Aboriginal and non-English speaking persons by Police to ensure that admissions were voluntarily obtained.
He retired in 1985 due to ill-health and relocated to Perth
.
in 1982 for services to law and is the only person to be knight
ed for services to the Northern Territory
.
William Forster Chambers in Darwin now carries his name.
Chief Justice of the Northern Territory
The title of Chief Justice of the Northern Territory refers to the highest judicial position in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. The position is currently held by Trevor Riley.-History of the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory:...
of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
Supreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
holding that position from 1979 to 1985. Before that he was the first (and only) Chief Judge from 1977 to 1979 and Senior Judge from 1971 to 1977, all positions which were effectively the same.
Sir William was born in Sydney, New South Wales on 15 June 1921 and, after moving to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
in 1929, attended St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
.
Early Legal Life
Chief Justice Forster graduated with a Bachelor of LawsBachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
.
He was in the Royal Australian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force
The Royal Australian Air Force is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. The RAAF was formed in March 1921. It continues the traditions of the Australian Flying Corps , which was formed on 22 October 1912. The RAAF has taken part in many of the 20th century's major conflicts...
from 1940 to 1946 and was a Magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
at the Adelaide Police Court from 1959 to 1961.
Chief Justice Forster was District Registrar of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
from 1966 to 1971 and before that was District Registrar from 1961 to 1966. He was Master of the Supreme Court of South Australia
Supreme Court of South Australia
The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...
from 1966 to 1971 and Deputy Master from 1961 to 1966.
Chief Justice Forster was a Member of the Standing Committee Senate at the Adelaide University from 1967 to 1971, Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
of Law and Procedure at the same time and lecturer of Criminal Law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
from 1957 to 1958.
As Judge of the Northern Territory Supreme Court
He was appointed Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern TerritorySupreme Court of the Northern Territory
The Supreme Court of the Northern Territory is the superior court for the Australian Territory of the Northern Territory. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters...
on 28 June 1971 and replaced Justice Blackburn who had taken up appointment with the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory
The Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory is the superior court for the ACT. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the territory in civil matters , and hears the most serious criminal matters...
.
After Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy
Cyclone Tracy was a tropical cyclone that devastated the city of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day, 1974...
had destroyed Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
in 1974, Justice Forster ensured the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
was fully functional by March 1975.
Chief Justice Forster was a Member of the Aboriginal Theatre Foundation from 1972 to 1975 and President of the Northern Territory Division of the Australian Red Cross
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross is one of the many national Red Cross societies around the world. The Australian organisation was established in 1914, nine days after the commencement of World War I, by Karen Tenenbaum, when she formed a branch of the British Red Cross.the organisation grew at a rapid rate...
from 1973 to 1985. He was also Chairman of the Museum and Galleries Board of the Northern Territory from 1974 to 1985.
Chief Justice Forster was Chairman of the Northern Territory Parole Board from 1976 to 1985 and held a Dormant Commission as Acting Administrator
Administrator of the Northern Territory
The Administrator of the Northern Territory is an official appointed by the Governor-General of Australia to exercise powers analogous to that of a state governor...
of the Northern Territory from 1976 to 1985. He was also a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
from 1977 to 1989.
Chief Justice Forster was a champion of the local legal profession and upon his retirement expressed a wish that vacancies on the Bench be filled by local practitioners. Indeed all appointments to the Supreme Court from 1991 (other than that of Chief Justice Brian Ross Martin
Brian Ross Martin
Brian Ross Martin AO QC was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory from 2004 to 2010. He was sworn in as the Northern Territory's fifth Chief Justice on 27 January 2004 following the retirement of Brian Frank Martin.At the time of his appointment he was a judge of the...
in 2004) have been from the local profession.
In 1976, Chief Justice Forster was responsible for the introduction of the 'Anunga Rules' which, established guidelines for the interrogation of Aboriginal and non-English speaking persons by Police to ensure that admissions were voluntarily obtained.
He retired in 1985 due to ill-health and relocated to Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
.
Awards and honours
Justice Forster was awarded a Knight BachelorKnight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1982 for services to law and is the only person to be knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed for services to the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
.
William Forster Chambers in Darwin now carries his name.
