The Hon Terence John HIGGINS AO
Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 1.7.1990
Location: Canberra
Other Commissions/Appointments:
Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory – Chief Justice
Chief Justice Terence John Higgins is a resident Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, being so appointed on 2 July 1990. He was appointed Chief Justice on 31 January 2003. On 9 June 2008 he was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania but was educated at St Augustines Christian Brothers College in Yarraville, Victoria, and later, at St Edmund’s College, Canberra and the Australian National University, Canberra. After completing article of clerkship with J J O’Neill Solicitors he was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the ACT in 1967 and served at the bar as Queen’s Counsel (ACT, NSW and Victoria) from 1987 to 1990. He was Vice President of the ACT Bar Association in from 1988 until his judicial appointment in 1990. Justice Higgins began practising law with J J O’Neill, solicitor in 1967 and remained until 1971 when he became partner in the law firm Higgins Faulks & Martin (formerly Higgins & Faulks). In 1981 that firm became Higgins Solicitors and he remained a partner until 1984 when he went to the ACT Bar.
Justice Higgins is currently the National President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia, ACT Chairman of Open Family ACT (as well as a National Board member) and a member of the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences ACT Chapter. In the past Justice Higgins has been involved in various committees and associations including National President of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (1997-2003), Chair of the ACT Community Law Reform Committee (1994-96), Senior Member of the ACT Gaming and Liquor Authority (1987-90), Chairman of SEC Board 1990-2003 and President, Senior Common Room of John XXIII College ANU (1993-95). Widowed with five children and residing in the Australian Capital Territory, Justice Higgins enjoys squash, chess, reading and bridge. Justice Higgins was appointed to ADHREC (Australian Defence Forces Human Research Ethics Committee) in 1993 (then called ADMEC (Australian Defence Medical Ethics Committee)) and has served on the committee ever since. On 27 June 2003 he was appointed Honorary Air Commodore of No. 28 (City of Canberra) Squadron RAAF. On 23 April 2004 the Chief Justice was inducted as Honorary Ambassador for the ACT by the Chief Minister, Mr Jon Stanhope MLA.
