Background
He died on 13 July 1997, aged 94.
attorney general chief justice minister for external affairs
He died on 13 July 1997, aged 94.
He graduated from the University of Sydney with a University Medal in law.A very diligent student, he was admitted to practice soon after finishing university.
Barwick was elected to the House of Representatives as the Liberal member for Parramatta at a by-election on 8 March 1958, and re-elected in the general elections of 1958, 1961 and 1963.
During his period in parliament he served as Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs. As Attorney-General he promoted acts amending the Matrimonial Causes Act and the Crimes Act. He established a model for restrictive trade practices legislation. He led the Australian delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations for its 15th, 17th and 18th sessions.
On 27 April 1964, he was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia: the first law graduate from the University of Sydney to hold this position. He was instrumental in the construction of the High Court building in Canberra (unofficially known, as a result, as "Gar's Mahal"),and became the first president of the Australian Conservation Foundation in 1966.
In 1964 he was appointed a Privy Counsellor.
Made a Knight Bachelor, "in recognition of service to the Public service"
In January 1965 he was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG), honouring his contribution as Chief Justice of the High Court.
In June 1981 he was appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia (AK), "in recognition of service to the Australian Parliament, government and the law".
During the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis advised Governor-General on the constitutional. This was significant, because Barwick and Gough Whitlam in 1981, but continued to be active as a much-sought-after expert on legal issues until the end of his life.
