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 was appointed a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia and a resident Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory on 2 July 1990. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory on 31 January 2003. 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 International Development Liaison Officer of the Royal Life Saving Society of Australia (appointed 2003), 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). Justice Higgins was appointed to ADHREC (Australian Defence Forces Health Research Committee) in 1993 (then called ADMEC (Australian Defence Forces 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.
Chief Justice Higgins was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday Honours on 9 June 2008.
