Brian Ross Martin
Encyclopedia
Brian Ross Martin AO
QC
(born 2 September 1947) 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 Supreme Court of South Australia
.
and was educated at the Oakbank Area School and the Adelaide High School
. He was admitted to practice law in 1970 after studying at the University of Adelaide
.
in 1974 and eventually the Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1982.
Justice Martin was appointed as a Queen's Counsel
in 1984 and in 1991 was appointed as Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into WA Inc.
Justice Martin was appointed as the Commonwealth
Director of Public Prosecutions
in 1997 a position he held until taking up his appointment as a Judge of the South Australian Supreme Court.
from 1994 to 1998 and was Chairman of the Westminster School
Council from 1988 to 1996.
in April 2005 and the trial proper began on 17 October 2005, and was completed with a verdict of guilty on 13 December 2005.
His sentence of one month jail for a 55 year old man raping a 14 year old girl, given on the grounds of Aboriginal customary law. This received criticism and was increased in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His sentence of four young white men to between four and six years prison, for the fatal bashing of Kwementyaye Ryder, an Aboriginal man. These short sentences, along with his submission of personal character references for each of the four defendants in the course of the trial, received criticism from the Indigenous press as being inadequate, and potentially racist.
AO
-Science and technology:* .ao, top-level Internet domain code for Angola* Adaptive optics, an astronomical imaging technology* Arctic oscillation, a climate pattern* The AMSAT-OSCAR satellite naming convention...
QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 2 September 1947) was the Chief Justice
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...
from 2004 to 2010. He was sworn in as the Northern Territory's
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...
fifth Chief Justice on 27 January 2004 following the retirement of Brian Frank Martin
Brian Frank Martin
Brian Frank Martin AO MBE QC was the fourth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. He was appointed to that position on 26 February 1993 when the former Chief Justice Austin Asche took up appointment as Administrator of the Northern Territory...
.
At the time of his appointment he was a judge 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...
.
Education
Justice Martin was born in AdelaideAdelaide
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...
and was educated at the Oakbank Area School and the Adelaide High School
Adelaide High School
Adelaide High School is a coeducational state high school situated on the corner of West Terrace and Glover Avenue in the Adelaide Parklands. It is the first government high school in South Australia...
. He was admitted to practice law in 1970 after studying at 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...
.
Pre-judicial offices
Justice Martin was appointed as an assistant Crown Prosecutor in AdelaideAdelaide
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 1974 and eventually the Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1982.
Justice Martin was appointed as a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1984 and in 1991 was appointed as Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into WA Inc.
Justice Martin was appointed as the Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions is the officer charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world...
in 1997 a position he held until taking up his appointment as a Judge of the South Australian Supreme Court.
Other interests
He was a Director of the Adelaide Crows Football ClubAdelaide Crows
The Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Crows, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, playing in the Australian Football League ....
from 1994 to 1998 and was Chairman of the Westminster School
Westminster School, Adelaide
Westminster School is an independent, Uniting Church, Early Learning to Year 12, coeducational, day and boarding school located at Marion, South Australia, 12 km south of Adelaide. Founded as a Methodist day and boarding school for boys, the school was opened by the Prime Minister Robert...
Council from 1988 to 1996.
Recent
Justice Martin was the trial judge for the trial of R v Murdoch, which commenced with a voir direVoir dire
Voir dire is a phrase in law which comes from the Anglo-Norman language. In origin it refers to an oath to tell the truth , i.e., to say what is true, what is objectively accurate or subjectively honest, or both....
in April 2005 and the trial proper began on 17 October 2005, and was completed with a verdict of guilty on 13 December 2005.
His sentence of one month jail for a 55 year old man raping a 14 year old girl, given on the grounds of Aboriginal customary law. This received criticism and was increased in the Court of Criminal Appeal.
His sentence of four young white men to between four and six years prison, for the fatal bashing of Kwementyaye Ryder, an Aboriginal man. These short sentences, along with his submission of personal character references for each of the four defendants in the course of the trial, received criticism from the Indigenous press as being inadequate, and potentially racist.
External links
- Profile of Chief Justice Martin
- List of current judges
- Martin appointed Chief Justice of the Northern Territory
- Stateline Interview with Martin on his appointment as Chief Justice
- ABC News report on challenges for Chief Justice Martin
- Swearing in of Chief Justice Martin
- Welcome of new Chief Justice Martin to Alice Springs Supreme Court
- NT Parliament announces appointment of Chief Justice Martin (hansard)
- 2004 Judge's handbook, including Northern Territory section from Chief Justice Martin
- Speech to the South Australian Press Club 15 September 2006