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Sarah Derrington

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Sarah Derrington
Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
Assumed office
10 January 2018
President of the Australian Law Reform Commission
In office
10 January 2018 – 9 January 2023
Preceded byRobert Cornall (acting)
Rosalind Croucher (substantive)
Succeeded byMordy Bromberg
Personal details
NationalityAustralian
SpouseJustice Roger Derrington
EducationUniversity of Queensland
OccupationJudge, Academic

Sarah Catherine Derrington (née Johnstone)[1] AM FAAL is an Australian jurist and academic. She has served as President of the Australian Law Reform Commission and as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia since 10 January 2018. She was previously Dean of Law at the University of Queensland from 2013 to 2018.

Early life and education

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Derrington was educated at St Anne's School in Townsville, Mentone Girls’ Grammar in Melbourne, St Hilda's, Southport before finishing her secondary education at St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School.[1] She then studied at the University of Queensland, from where she holds a BA in French and German, a Bachelor of Laws (Hons), a Master of Laws, and a Doctor of Philosophy in the field of marine insurance law. In 1990, she was admitted to the Bar in Queensland and as a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of the ACT.[2]

Career

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Derrington pursued dual careers in both academia and as a barrister specialising in maritime and shipping law and general commercial law, and has co-authored a number of texts on admiralty law.[3] She was appointed as Professor of Admiralty Law at the University of Queensland in 2008.[2] In 2013, she was appointed as the university's Dean of Law, the first woman to hold the position.[4]

Appointment to Australian Law Reform Commission and Federal Court

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In November 2017, Derrington was appointed by Attorney-General George Brandis as President of the Australian Law Reform Commission and also as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.[5]

As President of the Law Reform Commission, Derrington has presided over reports into Class Actions and Third-party Litigation Funders (ALRC Report 134); Family Law (ALRC Report 135) and Corporate Criminal Responsibility (ALRC Report 136).[3]

Personal life and honours

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Derrington is married to Justice Roger Derrington who was appointed to the Federal Court in 2017.[6] They have three children.[7]

In 2009, Derrington was appointed as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.[2] In 2022, she was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the judiciary and to the law, and to legal education".[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "The Honourable Justice Sarah Derrington". St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Biography of Justice Sarah Derrington". Federal Court of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b "The Hon. Justice S C Derrington AM, President". Australian Law Reform Commission. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  4. ^ "UQ appoints first female law dean". Lawyers Weekly. MOMENTUM MEDIA. 16 August 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  5. ^ Brandis, George (30 November 2017). "APPOINTMENT OF PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN LAW REFORM COMMISSION" (PDF). Australian Law Reform Commission. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  6. ^ Merritt, Chris (19 January 2018). "Derrington husband and wife for Federal Court". The Australian. News Corporation AU. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  7. ^ "Ceremonial Sitting of the Full Court For the Welcome of the Honourable Justice Derrington". Federal Court of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  8. ^ "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.