610:
484:(another Scullin nominee) was appointed at a younger age. On the court, McTiernan was considered a moderate, and was known for the consistency of his decisions. He generally favoured the position of the federal government, upholding the constitutionality of contentious legislation from both sides of politics. McTiernan retired reluctantly at the age of 84, after just under 46 years on the High Court bench. He lived to the age of 97, and was the last surviving MP from the 1920s.
548:
43:
601:. Their appointment was controversial, due to their youth (McTiernan was 38 and Evatt 36), perceived inexperience, and political connections â both were members of the Labor Party up until taking office, and the Labor caucus had publicly resolved "that the government should appoint to the bench two men known to have social views sympathetic to Labor".
733:
McTiernan was a member of the High Court for 46 years, making him the longest-serving judge in its history. This record is unlikely to be broken, as a constitutional change in 1977 introduced compulsory retirement ages for federal judges; a justice of the High Court must now retire at 70. McTiernan
496:, the second of three sons born to Isabella (nÊe Diamond) and Patrick McTiernan. His parents were Irish Catholic immigrants; his father worked as a policeman. McTiernan began his education at Metz Public School, located in a small settlement west of
781:. His inquiry is the third and most recent occasion on which a sitting High Court judge was called upon to investigate a matter on behalf of the federal government (usually regarded as a breach of
1738:
1673:
1723:
1688:
1678:
539:, whom he would eventually join on the High Court. He was rejected for military service during World War I due to an arm fracture sustained in childhood that had never properly healed.
773:, applied strict wartime censorship to the inquiry, with no press coverage allowed. The full report has never been made public, although a summary prepared for cabinet is held by the
734:
had no intention of resigning from the bench even into the 1970s, but, after breaking a hip at the age of 84 in 1976 while chasing a cricket in his hotel with a rolled up newspaper,
1280:
430:
977:
1693:
1683:
637:
805:, McTiernan was "very much attached to his parents". He did not marry until the age of 56, wedding Kathleen Lloyd on 27 December 1948 at St Roch's Catholic Church,
1273:
1037:
1713:
643:
1668:
1266:
1289:
1240:
453:
57:
1733:
625:
1718:
652:
505:
1728:
1184:
949:
465:
199:
897:
1068:
619:
509:
1012:
858:
560:
319:
1698:
1088:
999:
770:
556:
449:
274:
211:
1141:
1122:
1095:
617:
As a judge of the High Court, McTiernan was involved in several significant cases in
Australian legal history, including
575:
564:
473:
457:
174:
124:
92:
978:"'Anomalous Occurrences in Unusual Circumstances'? Towards a History of Extra-Judicial Activity by High Court Justices"
845:
840:
802:
782:
571:
469:
244:
691:
167:
753:
to conduct an inquiry into claims that test results at the
Aircraft Production Commission Testing Laboratory in
1480:
850:
774:
648:
741:'s refusal to include a wheelchair ramp in the design of the new High Court building prompted his retirement.
903:
715:
1208:
631:
583:
587:
516:
493:
437:
422:
371:
347:
33:
1420:
1297:
762:
735:
656:
568:
497:
425:(16 February 1892 â 9 January 1990), was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge. He served on the
1166:
945:
609:
515:
McTiernan left school in 1908 initially lacking the funds to attend university, instead joining the
461:
195:
527:
in 1912. He subsequently served his articles of clerkship at Sly & Russell while completing a
1460:
1192:
683:
594:
426:
1151:
1061:
567:
from April 1920 to April 1922 and again from June 1925 to May 1927, He was heavily involved in
382:
1621:
1585:
1560:
1352:
1708:
1703:
1495:
1465:
668:
520:
441:
25:
1258:
641:, which reinforced the doctrine of the separation of powers. He was the sole dissenter in
8:
1540:
1332:
806:
703:
578:. He retired from the Assembly in 1927 and took up a position as a law lecturer with his
1636:
1626:
1029:
266:
1435:
1327:
872:
864:
854:
814:
719:
664:
532:
1470:
1342:
778:
758:
738:
707:
676:
528:
524:
504:
in 1900, when he was about eight. He completed his education at
Catholic schools,
1611:
1595:
1490:
1485:
1388:
1312:
1021:
936:
Evatt served in the
Federal Parliament after his resignation from the High Court.
790:
682:
McTiernan was one of only eight justices of the High Court to have served in the
445:
351:
1555:
1550:
1510:
1505:
1430:
1362:
1357:
1078:
766:
1662:
1616:
1590:
1580:
1565:
1530:
1525:
1515:
1445:
1425:
1415:
1367:
1173:
1041:
868:
757:
had been fabricated. This might have compromised the structural integrity of
711:
699:
687:
590:
477:
80:
876:
1575:
1570:
1545:
1535:
1520:
1372:
1322:
1250:
1233:
1218:
1201:
1134:
1115:
1105:
695:
660:
223:
147:
116:
104:
586:. This was to be short-lived, as in 1930, one year into McTiernan's term,
1631:
1500:
1475:
1450:
1440:
1347:
1317:
1025:
786:
750:
727:
723:
598:
547:
536:
481:
582:. Two years later, however, he was elected to federal parliament as the
42:
1337:
810:
672:
1033:
355:
551:
McTiernan as a member of the New South Wales
Legislative Assembly.
924:
476:
in 1929, but served for little over a year before Prime
Minister
813:, Sydney, on 9 January 1990, at the age of 97. He was buried in
472:, but left state politics in 1927. McTiernan was elected to the
1674:
Australian
Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
754:
535:
the following year and was taken on as an associate of
Justice
501:
555:
After five years as a barrister, McTiernan was elected to the
1724:
Australian members of the Privy
Council of the United Kingdom
1689:
Members of the
Australian House of Representatives for Parkes
1679:
Australian Labor Party members of the Parliament of Australia
785:). The other two instances occurred during World War I, when
480:
nominated him to the High Court. He was 38 at the time; only
1739:
People educated at Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
1288:
519:
as a clerk. He eventually began studying part-time at the
623:, which struck down an attempt to nationalise the banks,
714:. He was also one of six justices to have served in the
686:
prior to his appointment to the Court; the others were
749:
In 1943, McTiernan was approached by Attorney-General
638:
R v Kirby; ex parte Boilermakers' Society of Australia
531:, graduating with first-class honours in 1915. He was
841:"McTiernan, Sir Edward Aloysius (Eddie) (1892â1990)"
777:. McTiernan was effectively granted the powers of a
1694:
Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
950:
Constitution Alteration (Retirement of Judges) 1977
647:(1945), which struck down the Chifley government's
1684:Members of the Australian House of Representatives
644:Attorney-General (Vic) ex rel Dale v Commonwealth
448:the following year. McTiernan was elected to the
1660:
809:. The couple had no children. McTiernan died in
838:
1274:
1241:Puisne Justice of the High Court of Australia
975:
626:Australian Communist Party v The Commonwealth
70:20 December 1930 â 12 September 1976
898:"Sir Edward Aloysius McTiernan (1892-1990)"
137:12 October 1929 â 19 December 1930
1281:
1267:
983:. High Court of Australia Public Lectures.
849:. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,
839:Williams, John M.; Wheeler, Fiona (2012).
629:, which struck down an attempt to ban the
41:
1714:People from New England (New South Wales)
965:. Sydney: Allen & Unwin. p. 290.
506:Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham
287:20 March 1920 â 7 September 1927
608:
546:
1669:Justices of the High Court of Australia
1290:Justices of the High Court of Australia
1661:
1651:Justices shown in order of appointment
969:
620:Bank of New South Wales v Commonwealth
563:. McTiernan served in the ministry as
460:. He served as attorney-general under
187:12 April 1920 â 13 April 1922
58:Justice of the High Court of Australia
1262:
834:
832:
830:
1734:Attorneys general of New South Wales
1000:New South Wales Legislative Assembly
960:
679:, and was knighted himself in 1951.
557:New South Wales Legislative Assembly
450:New South Wales Legislative Assembly
275:New South Wales Legislative Assembly
1719:20th-century Australian politicians
1142:Attorney General of New South Wales
1123:Attorney General of New South Wales
1096:Attorney General of New South Wales
576:New South Wales Legislative Council
565:Attorney-General of New South Wales
542:
458:Attorney-General of New South Wales
236:17 June 1925 â 26 May 1927
175:Attorney General of New South Wales
125:Australian House of Representatives
13:
1729:Agents-General for New South Wales
976:Fiona Wheeler (30 November 2011).
890:
846:Australian Dictionary of Biography
827:
14:
1750:
1174:Agent-General for New South Wales
991:
744:
796:
47:McTiernan in his chambers, 1954.
718:, along with Barton, O'Connor,
456:, and was soon after appointed
402:
954:
939:
930:
918:
851:Australian National University
649:Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
487:
1:
904:Parliament of New South Wales
820:
793:conducted Royal Commissions.
716:Parliament of New South Wales
604:
500:. He and his family moved to
419:Sir Edward Aloysius McTiernan
632:Communist Party of Australia
7:
1699:University of Sydney alumni
517:Commonwealth Public Service
510:St Mary's Cathedral College
494:Glen Innes, New South Wales
438:Glen Innes, New South Wales
372:Turramurra, New South Wales
10:
1755:
1013:Member for Western Suburbs
763:Royal Australian Air Force
761:bombers being used by the
653:a constitutional amendment
574:'s attempt to abolish the
559:in 1920 as the Member for
452:in 1920, representing the
1649:
1604:
1408:
1401:
1381:
1305:
1296:
1247:
1238:
1230:
1225:
1215:
1206:
1198:
1191:
1181:
1171:
1163:
1158:
1148:
1139:
1131:
1120:
1112:
1102:
1093:
1085:
1075:
1066:
1058:
1053:
1010:
1005:
998:
412:
389:
378:
361:
334:
329:
325:
315:
303:
291:
280:
272:
260:
250:
240:
229:
217:
205:
191:
180:
173:
163:
153:
141:
130:
122:
110:
98:
86:
74:
63:
56:
52:
40:
23:
771:Minister for Information
474:House of Representatives
440:. He graduated from the
433:in the court's history.
1193:Parliament of Australia
1185:The Viscount Chelmsford
684:Parliament of Australia
655:. He served under five
595:High Court of Australia
429:from 1930 to 1976, the
427:High Court of Australia
902:Former members of the
614:
552:
492:McTiernan was born in
436:McTiernan was born in
612:
593:nominated him to the
550:
431:longest-serving judge
16:Australian politician
1069:Minister for Justice
961:Marr, David (1980).
925:Sir Edward McTiernan
807:Glen Iris, Melbourne
783:separation of powers
523:, graduating with a
521:University of Sydney
442:University of Sydney
30:Sir Edward McTiernan
26:The Right Honourable
1167:Sir Timothy Coghlan
1048:District abolished
1054:Political offices
948:section 71, after
779:Royal Commissioner
615:
553:
1656:
1655:
1645:
1644:
1397:
1396:
1257:
1256:
1248:Succeeded by
1216:Succeeded by
1209:Member for Parkes
1182:Succeeded by
1159:Diplomatic posts
1149:Succeeded by
1103:Succeeded by
1076:Succeeded by
1017:1920â1927
860:978-0-522-84459-7
815:Rookwood Cemetery
775:National Archives
720:Albert Piddington
665:Frank Gavan Duffy
613:McTiernan c. 1930
584:member for Parkes
533:called to the bar
446:called to the bar
444:in 1915, and was
416:
415:
1746:
1406:
1405:
1303:
1302:
1283:
1276:
1269:
1260:
1259:
1251:Sir Keith Aickin
1234:Sir Isaac Isaacs
1231:Preceded by
1199:Preceded by
1164:Preceded by
1132:Preceded by
1113:Preceded by
1086:Preceded by
1059:Preceded by
996:
995:
985:
984:
982:
973:
967:
966:
958:
952:
943:
937:
934:
928:
927:(family history)
922:
916:
915:
913:
911:
894:
888:
887:
885:
883:
836:
759:Bristol Beaufort
708:Garfield Barwick
692:Richard O'Connor
677:Garfield Barwick
543:Political career
529:Bachelor of Laws
525:Bachelor of Arts
406:
404:
368:
345:16 February 1892
344:
342:
330:Personal details
306:
294:
285:
263:
253:
234:
220:
208:
185:
156:
144:
135:
117:Sir Keith Aickin
113:
105:Sir Isaac Isaacs
101:
89:
77:
68:
45:
21:
20:
1754:
1753:
1749:
1748:
1747:
1745:
1744:
1743:
1659:
1658:
1657:
1652:
1641:
1600:
1393:
1377:
1292:
1287:
1253:
1244:
1236:
1221:
1212:
1204:
1187:
1178:
1169:
1154:
1145:
1137:
1126:
1118:
1108:
1099:
1091:
1081:
1072:
1064:
1062:Jack FitzGerald
1018:
1016:
994:
989:
988:
980:
974:
970:
959:
955:
944:
940:
935:
931:
923:
919:
909:
907:
896:
895:
891:
881:
879:
861:
837:
828:
823:
799:
791:Samuel Griffith
747:
607:
561:Western Suburbs
545:
490:
408:
405: 1948)
400:
396:
379:Political party
370:
366:
352:New South Wales
346:
340:
338:
320:Western Suburbs
304:
292:
286:
281:
261:
251:
235:
230:
218:
206:
198:
186:
181:
154:
142:
136:
131:
111:
99:
93:Lord Stonehaven
87:
75:
69:
64:
48:
36:
31:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1752:
1742:
1741:
1736:
1731:
1726:
1721:
1716:
1711:
1706:
1701:
1696:
1691:
1686:
1681:
1676:
1671:
1654:
1653:
1650:
1647:
1646:
1643:
1642:
1640:
1639:
1634:
1629:
1624:
1619:
1614:
1608:
1606:
1602:
1601:
1599:
1598:
1593:
1588:
1583:
1578:
1573:
1568:
1563:
1558:
1553:
1548:
1543:
1538:
1533:
1528:
1523:
1518:
1513:
1508:
1503:
1498:
1493:
1488:
1483:
1478:
1473:
1468:
1463:
1458:
1453:
1448:
1443:
1438:
1433:
1428:
1423:
1418:
1412:
1410:
1403:
1399:
1398:
1395:
1394:
1392:
1391:
1385:
1383:
1379:
1378:
1376:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1309:
1307:
1300:
1298:Chief Justices
1294:
1293:
1286:
1285:
1278:
1271:
1263:
1255:
1254:
1249:
1246:
1237:
1232:
1228:
1227:
1226:Legal offices
1223:
1222:
1217:
1214:
1205:
1200:
1196:
1195:
1189:
1188:
1183:
1180:
1170:
1165:
1161:
1160:
1156:
1155:
1152:Andrew Lysaght
1150:
1147:
1138:
1133:
1129:
1128:
1119:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1104:
1101:
1092:
1087:
1083:
1082:
1079:William McKell
1077:
1074:
1065:
1060:
1056:
1055:
1051:
1050:
1045:
1009:
1003:
1002:
993:
992:External links
990:
987:
986:
968:
953:
938:
929:
917:
889:
859:
825:
824:
822:
819:
798:
795:
767:Arthur Calwell
746:
745:Secret inquiry
743:
657:Chief Justices
651:and triggered
606:
603:
588:Prime Minister
544:
541:
489:
486:
414:
413:
410:
409:
398:
395:Kathleen Lloyd
394:
393:
391:
387:
386:
380:
376:
375:
369:(aged 97)
365:9 January 1990
363:
359:
358:
336:
332:
331:
327:
326:
323:
322:
317:
313:
312:
310:Seat abolished
307:
301:
300:
295:
289:
288:
278:
277:
273:Member of the
270:
269:
267:Andrew Lysaght
264:
258:
257:
254:
248:
247:
242:
238:
237:
227:
226:
221:
215:
214:
209:
203:
202:
193:
189:
188:
178:
177:
171:
170:
165:
161:
160:
157:
151:
150:
145:
139:
138:
128:
127:
123:Member of the
120:
119:
114:
108:
107:
102:
96:
95:
90:
84:
83:
78:
72:
71:
61:
60:
54:
53:
50:
49:
46:
38:
37:
32:
29:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1751:
1740:
1737:
1735:
1732:
1730:
1727:
1725:
1722:
1720:
1717:
1715:
1712:
1710:
1707:
1705:
1702:
1700:
1697:
1695:
1692:
1690:
1687:
1685:
1682:
1680:
1677:
1675:
1672:
1670:
1667:
1666:
1664:
1648:
1638:
1635:
1633:
1630:
1628:
1625:
1623:
1620:
1618:
1615:
1613:
1610:
1609:
1607:
1603:
1597:
1594:
1592:
1589:
1587:
1584:
1582:
1579:
1577:
1574:
1572:
1569:
1567:
1564:
1562:
1559:
1557:
1554:
1552:
1549:
1547:
1544:
1542:
1539:
1537:
1534:
1532:
1529:
1527:
1524:
1522:
1519:
1517:
1514:
1512:
1509:
1507:
1504:
1502:
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1482:
1479:
1477:
1474:
1472:
1469:
1467:
1464:
1462:
1459:
1457:
1454:
1452:
1449:
1447:
1444:
1442:
1439:
1437:
1434:
1432:
1429:
1427:
1424:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1413:
1411:
1407:
1404:
1400:
1390:
1387:
1386:
1384:
1380:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1310:
1308:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1295:
1291:
1284:
1279:
1277:
1272:
1270:
1265:
1264:
1261:
1252:
1243:
1242:
1235:
1229:
1224:
1220:
1211:
1210:
1203:
1197:
1194:
1190:
1186:
1177:
1175:
1168:
1162:
1157:
1153:
1144:
1143:
1136:
1130:
1125:
1124:
1117:
1111:
1107:
1098:
1097:
1090:
1084:
1080:
1071:
1070:
1063:
1057:
1052:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1043:
1039:
1035:
1031:
1027:
1023:
1015:
1014:
1008:
1004:
1001:
997:
979:
972:
964:
957:
951:
947:
942:
933:
926:
921:
906:
905:
899:
893:
878:
874:
870:
866:
862:
856:
852:
848:
847:
842:
835:
833:
831:
826:
818:
816:
812:
808:
804:
801:According to
797:Personal life
794:
792:
788:
784:
780:
776:
772:
768:
764:
760:
756:
752:
742:
740:
737:
736:Chief Justice
731:
729:
725:
721:
717:
713:
712:Lionel Murphy
709:
705:
701:
700:H. B. Higgins
697:
693:
689:
688:Edmund Barton
685:
680:
678:
674:
670:
666:
662:
658:
654:
650:
646:
645:
640:
639:
634:
633:
628:
627:
622:
621:
611:
602:
600:
597:, along with
596:
592:
591:James Scullin
589:
585:
581:
577:
573:
570:
566:
562:
558:
549:
540:
538:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
513:
511:
507:
503:
499:
495:
485:
483:
479:
478:James Scullin
475:
471:
467:
463:
459:
455:
451:
447:
443:
439:
434:
432:
428:
424:
420:
411:
392:
388:
384:
381:
377:
373:
364:
360:
357:
353:
349:
337:
333:
328:
324:
321:
318:
314:
311:
308:
302:
299:
296:
290:
284:
279:
276:
271:
268:
265:
259:
255:
249:
246:
243:
239:
233:
228:
225:
222:
216:
213:
210:
204:
201:
197:
194:
190:
184:
179:
176:
172:
169:
166:
162:
158:
152:
149:
146:
140:
134:
129:
126:
121:
118:
115:
109:
106:
103:
97:
94:
91:
85:
82:
81:James Scullin
79:
73:
67:
62:
59:
55:
51:
44:
39:
35:
27:
22:
19:
1455:
1239:
1219:Charles Marr
1207:
1202:Charles Marr
1172:
1140:
1135:Thomas Bavin
1121:
1116:Thomas Bavin
1106:Thomas Bavin
1094:
1089:John Garland
1067:
1047:
1020:
1011:
1007:New district
1006:
971:
962:
956:
946:Constitution
941:
932:
920:
908:. Retrieved
901:
892:
880:. Retrieved
844:
800:
748:
732:
696:Isaac Isaacs
681:
661:Isaac Isaacs
642:
636:
630:
624:
618:
616:
579:
554:
514:
491:
466:James Dooley
435:
418:
417:
367:(1990-01-09)
316:Constituency
309:
305:Succeeded by
298:Seat created
297:
282:
262:Succeeded by
256:Thomas Bavin
231:
224:Thomas Bavin
219:Succeeded by
212:John Garland
200:James Dooley
182:
164:Constituency
159:Charles Marr
155:Succeeded by
148:Charles Marr
132:
112:Succeeded by
88:Appointed by
76:Nominated by
65:
18:
1709:1990 deaths
1704:1892 births
1637:Beech-Jones
1030:Shillington
787:George Rich
751:H. V. Evatt
728:H. V. Evatt
724:Adrian Knox
704:John Latham
669:John Latham
599:H. V. Evatt
537:George Rich
488:Early years
482:H. V. Evatt
462:John Storey
454:Labor Party
374:, Australia
293:Preceded by
252:Preceded by
207:Preceded by
196:John Storey
143:Preceded by
100:Preceded by
1663:Categories
1627:J. Gleeson
1436:Piddington
1363:M. Gleeson
1245:1930â1976
1213:1929â1930
1146:1925â1927
1127:1921â1922
1100:1920â1921
882:18 October
821:References
811:Turramurra
673:Owen Dixon
605:High Court
580:alma mater
348:Glen Innes
341:1892-02-16
1456:McTiernan
1176:(acting)
1022:Lazzarini
869:1833-7538
803:Jack Lang
572:Jack Lang
498:Hillgrove
470:Jack Lang
385:(to 1930)
356:Australia
283:In office
245:Jack Lang
232:In office
183:In office
133:In office
66:In office
1571:Callinan
1491:Windeyer
1471:Fullagar
1461:Williams
1421:O'Connor
1402:Justices
1313:Griffith
877:70677943
765:(RAAF).
675:and Sir
1622:Steward
1617:Edelman
1605:Current
1581:Crennan
1546:Gaudron
1506:Stephen
1486:Menzies
1426:Higgins
1389:Gageler
1382:Current
1358:Brennan
1343:Barwick
1026:Hoskins
963:Barwick
739:Barwick
569:Premier
407:
399:
241:Premier
192:Premier
1612:Gordon
1596:Nettle
1576:Heydon
1556:Gummow
1551:McHugh
1541:Toohey
1536:Dawson
1526:Wilson
1521:Aickin
1516:Murphy
1511:Jacobs
1481:Taylor
1446:Starke
1431:Powers
1416:Barton
1409:Former
1373:Kiefel
1368:French
1333:Latham
1323:Isaacs
1306:Former
1042:Jarvie
1038:Wilson
1019:With:
910:11 May
875:
867:
857:
769:, the
755:Sydney
710:, and
671:, Sir
667:, Sir
663:, Sir
659:- Sir
508:, and
502:Sydney
468:, and
390:Spouse
168:Parkes
1632:Jagot
1591:Keane
1566:Hayne
1561:Kirby
1531:Deane
1501:Walsh
1476:Kitto
1451:Evatt
1353:Mason
1348:Gibbs
1338:Dixon
1328:Duffy
1179:1926
1073:1920
981:(PDF)
401:(
397:
383:Labor
1586:Bell
1496:Owen
1466:Webb
1441:Rich
1318:Knox
1034:Ness
912:2019
884:2017
873:OCLC
865:ISSN
855:ISBN
789:and
726:and
635:and
362:Died
335:Born
423:KBE
34:KBE
1665::
1036:,
1028:,
1024:,
900:.
871:.
863:.
853:.
843:.
829:^
817:.
730:.
722:,
706:,
702:,
698:,
694:,
690:,
512:.
464:,
421:,
403:m.
354:,
350:,
1282:e
1275:t
1268:v
1040:/
1032:/
914:.
886:.
343:)
339:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.