Wayne Martin

Wayne Stewart Martin QC (born 28 December 1952) is the current Chief Justice of Western Australia. He was formally appointed on 2006-04-04.

Education

Martin graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1973Fact|date=June 2008. He completed a Master of Laws at King's College London and was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 1977Fact|date=June 2008. He was a partner of the law firm Keall Brinsden (now Corrs Chambers Westgarth) until joining the independent bar in 1988Fact|date=June 2008. He was made a QC in 1993 cite press release
title = Welcome to the Honourable Chief Justice Martin
publisher = Supreme Court of Western Australia
date = 2006-05-01
format = pdf
language = English
url = http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/WelcomeTranscript.pdf
accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] .

Legal career

In addition to his work as a barrister, Martin is a former chairman of the Western Australian Law Reform Commission, president of the Administrative Review CouncilFact|date=June 2008, chair of the Defamation Law Reform CommitteeFact|date=June 2008 and president of the Western Australia Bar Association. In addition, he is a former president of the Law Society of Western Australia and a director of the Law Council of Australia.

Judicial career

Since becoming Chief Justice, Martin has spoken out about the need to enhance access to justice and improve the efficiency of the legal system [cite paper
last = Martin
first = Wayne
author = Wayne Martin
authorlink = Wayne Martin
title = Bridging the Gap
pages = 24
publisher = National Access to Justice and Pro Bono Conference
date = 2006-08-12
url = http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/BridgingTheGap-20092006.pdf
format = pdf
accessdate = 2008-06-29] [cite press release
title = Supreme Court reform announced by Chief Justice
publisher = Supreme Court of Western Australia
date = 2006-08-31
format = pdf
language = English
url = http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/SupremeCourtReform-31082006.pdf
accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] . He has also come to the defence of the legal system in the wake of criticisms in some sections of the media that resulted from several high profile miscarriages of justice [cite press release
title = WA Criminal Justice System
publisher = Supreme Court of Western Australia
date = 2006-08-08
format = pdf
language = English
url = http://www.supremecourt.wa.gov.au/publications/pdf/WACriminalJusticeSystem-08082006.pdf
accessdate = 2008-06-29 ] .

ee also

* Judiciary of Australia

References