Garry Downes

The Honourable
Garry Keith Downes
AM KC
Born (1944-01-07) 7 January 1944 (age 80)
Sydney Australia
NationalityAustralian
EducationNewington College
University of Sydney Law School
Occupation(s)Retired judge, Federal Court of Australia
Former President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
SpouseBrenda (nee Davis)
Children3 daughters
ParentMr F K Downes

Garry Keith Downes AM KC (born 7 January 1944)[1] is a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia and former President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.[2][3]

Education

Downes attended Newington College (1956-1960)[4] and graduated from the University of Sydney Law School in 1967. His first job was as associate to then Chief Justice of Australia, Sir Garfield Barwick.[5]

Downes was called to the Australian Bar in 1970 and appointed Queen's Counsel in 1983. He was also a member of the English Bar. His practice was concentrated on commercial law, administrative law, and international arbitration.

Downes was Chairman of the Federal Litigation Section of the Law Council of Australia and Chairman of its Administrative Law Committee. He has served international and national organisations in various capacities, including as President of the Union Internationale des Avocats, Founder and Patron of the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers' Society, Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators Australia, Member of the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce, Member of the Council of the NSW Bar Association and Chairman of the NSW Council of Law Reporting.

Downes was appointed judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal in 2002. He is the immediate past Chair of the Council of Australasian Tribunals (COAT) and a past member of the Council of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA).

In November 2007 he assumed, with Chief Justice Michael Black of the Federal Court, co-presidency of the International Association of Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions (IASAJ).

On 15 May 2012, Downes retired from the Bench.[1]

In February 2014, Downes was retained by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) to review its investigation into supplements use at Australian Football League (AFL) club Essendon and National Rugby League (NRL) club the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[2]

Honours

In the 1997 Australia Day Honours Downes became a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "In recognition of service to the law as a barrister, educator and Executive Officer of many legal organisations, including President of the International Association of Lawyers".[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Merritt, Chris (30 March 2012). "Garry Downes judges AAT survival hardest job". The Australian. News Ltd. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b Warner, Michael (3 February 2014). "ASADA hires a former Federal Court judge to finalise its investigation into AFL, NRL". Herald Sun. News Ltd. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
  3. ^ Who's Who in Australia (Crown Content, 2008) pp654
  4. ^ Newington College Register of Past Students 1863-1998 (Syd, 1999) pp54
  5. ^ "University of Sydney Alumni" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2007. Retrieved 18 June 2007.
  6. ^ "Downes, Garry Keith". It's an Honour. Australian Government. 26 January 1997. Retrieved 3 February 2014.