MEDIA RELEASE
The Chief Justice of Western Australia the Hon David Malcolm AC has been made an Honorary Bencher of The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, one of the major organisations of barristers in England.
The honour has been extended to former Chief Justices Brennan, Mason and Gibbs of the High Court of Australia, but it is unusual for a State or Provincial Chief Justice to be made an Honorary Bencher of the Inns of Court.
The present Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, the Hon Murray Gleeson AC was made an Honorary Bencher of the Middle Temple when he was Chief Justice of New South Wales.
A number of Chief Justices of countries in the British Commonwealth have also been similarly honoured, including the Chief Justices of Canada and New Zealand.
Chief Justice Malcolm was installed as Honorary Bencher in London on Friday, 1 July 1999.
The Chief Justice is currently in Edinburgh to attend the Third Worldwide Common Law Judges Conference.
He will Chair a session on Judicial Independence and Accountability and present a paper on the Supreme Court's Electronic Appeals Project.
In June 1998 the Supreme Court of Western Australia heard the first fully computerised appeal in Australian legal history.
The Electronic Appeals Project is being carried out as a pilot project for the Council of Chief Justices of Australia and New Zealand.
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