Brian Ross Martin

Brian Ross Martin QC (2 September 1947 - ) is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory. He was sworn in as the Northern Territory's fifth Chief Justice on 27 January 2004 following the retirement of Brian Frank Martin.

At the time of his appointment he was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia.

Education

Justice Martin was born in Adelaide and was educated at the Oakbank Area School and the Adelaide High School. He was admitted to practice law in 1970 after studying at the University of Adelaide.

Pre-judicial offices

Justice Martin was appointed as an assistant Crown Prosecutor in Adelaide in 1974 and eventually the Senior Crown Prosecutor in 1982.

Justice Martin was appointed as a Queen's Counsel in 1984 and in 1991 was appointed as Senior Counsel assisting the Royal Commission into WA Inc.

Justice Martin was appointed as the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in 1997 a position he held until taking up his appointment as a Judge of the South Australian Supreme Court.

Other interests

He was a Director of the Adelaide Crows Football Club from 1994 - 1998 and was Chairman of the Westminster School Council from 1988 - 1996.

Recent

Justice Martin was the trial judge for the trial of R v Murdoch, which commenced with a voir dire in April 2005 and the trial proper began on 17 October 2005, and was completed with a verdict of guilty on 13 December 2005.

His sentence of one month jail for a 55 year old man raping a 14 year old girl, given on the grounds of Aboriginal customary law. This received criticism and was increased in the Court of Criminal Appeal. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200605/s1646217.htm Judge warns against distorting customary law debate] Australian Broadcasting Corporation, May 24, 2006 Retrieved May 27, 2006.]

References

External links

* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/judges/current/martin.html Profile of Chief Justice Martin]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/judges.html List of current judges]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/doc/news/2003/new_cheif_justice.pdf Martin appointed Chief Justice of the Northern Territory]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/nt/content/2003/s969618.htm Stateline Interview with Martin on his appointment as Chief Justice]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/nt/news/200310/s966806.htm ABC News report on challenges for Chief Justice Martin]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/doc/news/2004/ceremonial_br_martin_02022004.pdf Swearing in of Chief Justice Martin]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/doc/news/2004/ceremonial_sitting_04022004.pdf Welcome of new Chief Justice Martin to Alice Springs Supreme Court]
* [http://notes.nt.gov.au/lant/hansard/hansard9.nsf/0/A352079046578FF169256DE800078DE3?opendocument NT Parliament announces appointment of Chief Justice Martin (hansard)]
* [http://www.alsa.asn.au/files/lsd/2004/JudgesHandbook2004.pdf 2004 Judge's handbook, including Northern Territory section from Chief Justice Martin]
* [http://www.nt.gov.au/ntsc/media/20060915cjmartin_sa_pressclub.html Speech to the South Australian Press Club 15 September 2006]