15 Facts About Bernard Sugerman

Sir Bernard Sugerman was an Australian barrister, legal scholar, and judge.

Bernard Sugerman was born on 5 July 1904 at Rockdale, New South Wales to Solomon Ruben Sugerman and Florrie.

Bernard Sugerman attended Kogarah Public School, Sydney Boys High School and, having won an exhibition, the University of Sydney, where he enrolled in law.

Bernard Sugerman was the Wigram Allen Scholar in 1922, Pitt Cobbet Prizeman in 1922, and John George Dalley Prizeman in 1925.

Bernard Sugerman was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 12 March 1926 and went into chambers with his friends David Roper and Alan Taylor.

Bernard Sugerman's practice grew slowly and he was appointed KC in October 1943, after which he began to be briefed in important constitutional cases before the High Court of Australia.

Bernard Sugerman had been one of the Commonwealth's advisers at the 1942 Constitutional Convention.

Bernard Sugerman became the first editor of the Australian Law Journal, only leaving that post on being elevated to the bench.

Bernard Sugerman was editor-in-chief of the Australian Digest and editor of the Commonwealth Law Reports.

Bernard Sugerman was appointed to the bench of the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration to make a full bench to hear the application by trade unions for a shorter standard working week of 40 hours.

Bernard Sugerman remained head of the Land and Valuation Court until 1961 but was called upon to sit in equity and, over time, the Full Court and the Court of Appeal.

Bernard Sugerman sat on the Full Court to hear the landmark New South Wales state constitutional law case of Clayton v Heffron where he joined the majority, writing a joint judgment with Chief Justice Evatt.

Bernard Sugerman was passed over for appointment as first president of the new Court of Appeal in 1966, but he became its second president on 22 January 1970 but ill health led him to retire on 29 September 1972.

Bernard Sugerman was a council member of the New South Wales Bar Association and deputy-president of the Solicitors Admission Board.

At the Great Synagogue, Sydney, on 4 January 1928, Bernard Sugerman married Sarah Rosenblum, a schoolteacher from South Africa, with whom he had two sons.