Geoffrey Davies

Geoffrey Lance Davies was appointed to the Bench of the newly established Court of Appeal on 16 December 1991.

He was, from 1994 to 1996, Chairman of the Litigation Reform Commission, which was charged with reforming procedure, both civil and criminal in Queensland.

He was admitted to the Bar in 1962, where he rapidly developed a wide and extensive practice. His Honour took silk in 1976 and from 1986 practised exclusively in appellate jurisdictions, including appearing in many High Court matters of constitutional and commercial importance.

From 1989 he was the Solicitor-General for the State of Queensland, the first member of the private Bar to hold that position. At the same time he retained his private practice.

He was President of the Queensland Bar Association 1987-1989, President of the Australian Bar Association 1987-1988 and, at the time of his appointment, a Vice-President of the Law Council of Australia.

On 26 January 2003 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for service to the judiciary and to the legal profession, particularly in the area of reform. He has an honorary doctorate from the QUT University for services to the law, law reform and legal education and has been made an honorary life member of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration for services to law reform and legal education.