GEOFFREY M EAMES AM QC '62
Mr Eames practised as a barrister in Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory of Australia from 1969 to 1992, either as an independent barrister or as an employee of Aboriginal and/or legal aid organisations.
He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1992 in the Trial Division and in 2002 was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal. He retired from the Victorian Supreme Court in 2007. Mr Eames sat as an Acting Judge in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 2007-2008.
Justice Eames was appointed Chief Justice of the Republic of Nauru in December 2010, a part time position which he held until his resignation in March 2014 following the cancellation of his visa by the Nauru Government, a decision taken in defiance of the rule of law.
From the early 1970s Mr Eames has had a close association with the Australian indigenous community, having frequently represented Aboriginal people in their struggle for land rights and civil rights. In 1985-1986 he was senior counsel representing Aboriginal interests in the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia and in 1987 to 1991 he was Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
He was the foundation Chairman of the Victorian Judicial Officers’ Aboriginal Cultural Relations Committee and held that position for more than 10 years and was also Vice Chairman of the National Judicial Officers’ Cultural Awareness Committee.
In 2003 Justice Eames was awarded the Indigenous Community Justice Award; in 2006 the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers’ Association Award; in 2007 the Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, from Victorian Law Foundation and in 2007 was also appointed a life member of the Australia Institute of Judicial Administration. In 2014 he was awarded the President’s Medal from the Law Council of Australia.
In 2009 Mr Eames was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the law and judiciary, particularly as advocate for the advancement of Indigenous Australians in the legal profession.
CHOSEN CHARITY: World Vision
He was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1992 in the Trial Division and in 2002 was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeal. He retired from the Victorian Supreme Court in 2007. Mr Eames sat as an Acting Judge in the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory in 2007-2008.
Justice Eames was appointed Chief Justice of the Republic of Nauru in December 2010, a part time position which he held until his resignation in March 2014 following the cancellation of his visa by the Nauru Government, a decision taken in defiance of the rule of law.
From the early 1970s Mr Eames has had a close association with the Australian indigenous community, having frequently represented Aboriginal people in their struggle for land rights and civil rights. In 1985-1986 he was senior counsel representing Aboriginal interests in the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests in Australia and in 1987 to 1991 he was Senior Counsel Assisting the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
He was the foundation Chairman of the Victorian Judicial Officers’ Aboriginal Cultural Relations Committee and held that position for more than 10 years and was also Vice Chairman of the National Judicial Officers’ Cultural Awareness Committee.
In 2003 Justice Eames was awarded the Indigenous Community Justice Award; in 2006 the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers’ Association Award; in 2007 the Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, from Victorian Law Foundation and in 2007 was also appointed a life member of the Australia Institute of Judicial Administration. In 2014 he was awarded the President’s Medal from the Law Council of Australia.
In 2009 Mr Eames was made a member of the Order of Australia for services to the law and judiciary, particularly as advocate for the advancement of Indigenous Australians in the legal profession.
CHOSEN CHARITY: World Vision