The Hon Robert David NICHOLSON AO Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 1.1.1995
Location: Perth
Other Commissions/Appointments:
Administrative Appeals Tribunal - Presidential Member
Robert David Nicholson was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia from 1 January 1995. At that time he was a Judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, having held that office since 1 May 1988. Prior to that he had been a Deputy President of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal since 1986.
He graduated from The University of Western Australia as Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts in 1959 and 1961 respectively. Subsequently he obtained a Master of Arts degree from Georgetown University, Washington DC under the auspices of a Rotary Foundation Fellowship and Fulbright travel grant in 1961 – 1962. He obtained the Master of Laws degree from The University of Melbourne in 1981.
In 1963 he commenced private legal practice as a barrister and solicitor in Western Australia. From 1975 – 1980 he was on leave from private practice to become the foundation Secretary-General of the Law Council of Australia. Returning to private legal practice in 1981, he was Vice-President of the Law Society of Western Australia until his first appointment.
For some years he lectured part-time at The University of Western Australia Law School in mining and natural resources law. Over the years Justice Nicholson contributed articles to legal journals taking a particular interest in issues of judicial administration. He is currently a long standing Councillor of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration.
Additionally, as Secretary of the Lawasia Judicial Section, he has participated in convening and organising successive Conferences of Chief Justices of the Asia/Pacific Region.
Justice Nicholson has recently become a foundation member of the Australian Academy of Law. From 1997 – 2004 he was Chancellor of Edith Cowan University in Western Australia. In 2002 he was appointed an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal.
