Interview with Justice Robert Marsden Hope, judge / interviewer, John Farquharson.

1998

25890

Hope, Robert Marsden, -- 1919-1999.

Judges -- Australia.

Hope talks about the reasons for choosing law; enrolment at Sydney University, Law Faculty in 1937; WWII experiences in AIF, 7th Div. and completion of law studies with LLB with 1st class honours. He then talks about Margaret Dalrymple Hay's influence; admission to Bar in 1945 and practising in 1946; decision to take silk which was approved in Dec. 1960; 1st Privy Council case and experiences as QC. Hope then discusses his appointment as judge of NSW Supreme Court in 1969; appointment as judge of NSW Court of Appeal in 1972; views on Barwick at the Bar; Whitlam-Murphy relationship; friendship between Kerr, Jacobs and Hope and his views on Hawke and Whitlam as Prime Ministers. He then describes his experiences as an Equity Court Judge; involvement with Council of Civil Liberties; experiences as Judge of Court of Appeal and Criminal Appeals; inquiry into National Estate in early 1970s and his role on Australian Heritage Council. Hope describes his work as Royal Commissioner of ASIO inquiry; impressions of MI5 and MI6 and influence of Sir Lionel Murphy. He then talks about his family background; schooling at SHORE (Sydney Church of England Grammar School); experiences on Senate of University of Sydney and as chancellor of Wollongong University. Hope then discusses the legal education system conducted by NSW Supreme Court; involvement in Kuringai Old People's Welfare Association; activities of Old Tote theatre company; involvement with Musica Viva and Tranby; part-time chairman of NSW Law Reform Commission; views on a number of High Court and NSW Supreme Court judges; activities of Australian Institute of Political Science and current state of the law.

Compact discs.

TRC 3672

Access open for research, personal copies and public use.

Recorded on Feb. 10 & July 10, 1998.

Oral History Collection.

12 sound discs (ca. 586 min.): digital + transcript (236 pages ).