1. Catherine Branson was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 to 2008, and then President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 to 2012.
16 Facts About Catherine Branson
1. 2.
Catherine Branson has been the 17th chancellor of the University of Adelaide since July 2020.
3.
Catherine Branson went to school at Presbyterian Girls' College before studying at the University of Adelaide.
4.
Catherine Branson initially sought to study psychology, but the pathway to that at the time was law or economics.
5.
Catherine Branson graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and then a Bachelor of Arts.
6.
On return to South Australia, Catherine Branson initially worked in private practice, then at the South Australian Department of Legal Services in 1977 before moving to the Crown Solicitor's Office in 1978.
7.
Catherine Branson had a dual appointment as the Chief Executive officer of the South Australian Attorney-General's Department, the first woman to be the permanent head of a South Australian government department.
8.
Catherine Branson practised as a barrister at the South Australian Bar from 1989, practising principally in the areas of administrative and commercial law.
9.
In 1994 Catherine Branson was appointed a judge of the Federal Court in 1994.
10.
Catherine Branson was a member of the full court considering an appeal by the Yorta Yorta people concerning their native title claim.
11.
Catherine Branson was a member of the majority that upheld Justice Olney's finding that the 'tide of history' had 'washed away' any real acknowledgement of traditional laws and any real observance of traditional customs by the Yorta Yorta community.
12.
Catherine Branson was the President of the Australian Institute for Judicial Administration from 1998 to 2000.
13.
Catherine Branson was the president of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 until 2012.
14.
Catherine Branson continued to live in Adelaide, however she had to commute regularly to Sydney and decided to resign 15 months early to spend more time with her husband and elderly parents.
15.
In 2012 Catherine Branson was given an honorary Doctor of Laws by Flinders University, for her 'long and esteemed career in the law' and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Macquarie University for her support and advocacy for human rights.
16.
In July 2020, Catherine Branson was appointed Chancellor of The University of Adelaide.