Peter Underwood (judge)
Encyclopedia
Peter George Underwood AC (born 10 October 1937) is currently the Governor of Tasmania. He was formerly the Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
from 2004 to 2008, having been a judge of that court from 1984.
Peter Underwood was born in 1937 in the United Kingdom
, and emigrated to Australia in 1950. He served in the Royal Australian Navy
first as a National Serviceman and then in the Reserve as a sub-lieutenant. He graduated from the University of Tasmania
in 1960, and practised law in Hobart
for the law firm Murdoch, Clarke, Cosgrove and Drake. He was a distinguished trial advocate for over twenty years. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court in August 1984.
He has previously managed and taught postgraduate courses in advocacy and Supreme Court practice through the University of Tasmania's Centre for Legal Practice, and continues to teach advocacy in all states of Australia with the Advocacy Institute of Australia. He has also taught for The College of Law
(UK) in Hong Kong and London.
Mr. Underwood has a special interest in the reform of civil procedure. He pioneered case management in Tasmania in 1989 and was instrumental in the development and use of technology as an aid to judicial work.
He has also served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Friends' School from 1989 to 1994, and was chairman of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Board from 1997 to 2006.
In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his services to legal education, the arts and the administration of justice.
In June 2002 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
.
He was appointed to the office of Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
on 2 December 2004.
Mr. Underwood is a former deputy president of the Australian Defence Force
Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal and was the President of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration from 2002 to September 2004.
On 3 March 2008, Premier Paul Lennon
announced the appointment of Peter Underwood as the next Governor of Tasmania
, and he was sworn in on 2 April 2008.
On 8 June 2009, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Supreme Court of Tasmania
The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest State court in the Australian State of Tasmania. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Tasmania is in the middle level, and is able to both receive appeals from lower courts, and able to be appealed from.The ordinary sittings of the...
from 2004 to 2008, having been a judge of that court from 1984.
Peter Underwood was born in 1937 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and emigrated to Australia in 1950. He served in the Royal Australian Navy
Royal Australian Navy
The Royal Australian Navy is the naval branch of the Australian Defence Force. Following the Federation of Australia in 1901, the ships and resources of the separate colonial navies were integrated into a national force: the Commonwealth Naval Forces...
first as a National Serviceman and then in the Reserve as a sub-lieutenant. He graduated from the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
in 1960, and practised law in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
for the law firm Murdoch, Clarke, Cosgrove and Drake. He was a distinguished trial advocate for over twenty years. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court in August 1984.
He has previously managed and taught postgraduate courses in advocacy and Supreme Court practice through the University of Tasmania's Centre for Legal Practice, and continues to teach advocacy in all states of Australia with the Advocacy Institute of Australia. He has also taught for The College of Law
The College of Law
The College of Law of England and Wales is a private educational institution in England and a registered charity which provides legal education for students and professionals.-20th century:...
(UK) in Hong Kong and London.
Mr. Underwood has a special interest in the reform of civil procedure. He pioneered case management in Tasmania in 1989 and was instrumental in the development and use of technology as an aid to judicial work.
He has also served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Friends' School from 1989 to 1994, and was chairman of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra
The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra is a symphony orchestra based in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. It is the smallest of the six orchestras established by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation .-Activities:...
Board from 1997 to 2006.
In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his services to legal education, the arts and the administration of justice.
In June 2002 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
He was appointed to the office of Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Supreme Court of Tasmania
The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest State court in the Australian State of Tasmania. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Tasmania is in the middle level, and is able to both receive appeals from lower courts, and able to be appealed from.The ordinary sittings of the...
on 2 December 2004.
Mr. Underwood is a former deputy president of the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal and was the President of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration from 2002 to September 2004.
On 3 March 2008, Premier Paul Lennon
Paul Lennon
Paul Anthony Lennon is an Australian Labor Party politician. He was Premier of Tasmania from 21 March 2004 until his resignation on 26 May 2008. He was member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for the seat of Franklin from 1990 until officially resigning on 27 May 2008...
announced the appointment of Peter Underwood as the next Governor of Tasmania
Governors of Tasmania
The Governor of Tasmania is the representative in the Australian state of Tasmania of Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The Governor performs the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as the Governor-General of Australia does at the national level.In accordance with the...
, and he was sworn in on 2 April 2008.
On 8 June 2009, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.