John Murtagh Macrossan (judge)

John Murtagh Macrossan (12 March 1930 – 5 August 2008) was Queensland’s 16th Chief Justice and the third person from the Macrossan family to occupy that position. He was also a distinguished barrister, chancellor and judge. His grandfather John Murtagh Macrossan was Colonial Secretary for Queensland, his two uncles Hugh Denis Macrossan and Neal William Macrossan were also Chief Justice of Queensland.

Macrossan was born on 12 March 1930 to Vincent and Dorothy Macrossan (née Brown). He was named after his grandfather of the same name who was member of the Queensland Parliament. He was educated at St Columban’s in Brisbane by the Christian Brothers. After high school, he went on to study at the University of Queensland where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a LLB. His mother is said to have wanted Macrossan to be a doctor whilst his father wanted him to be solicitor like himself. It was said that Macrossan was widely read, elegantly dressed and immaculately mannered.

He was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1951 but appeared in Court only once before going to Oxford University. It was at this appearance where he announced appearing for the wrong party. He attended Exeter College and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Laws. He returned to Queensland in 1954 to resume his career at the Bar. He shared chambers with James Archibald Douglas. He took Silk in 1967. He became the Queensland Government’s favoured senior counsel in industrial cases against the Australian Government. He was fortunate to have the privilege of appearing in the Privy Council.

He was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland as a judge in 1980. His appointment was merited. His courtesy on the bench is said to have been "legendary" and he never seemed to lose his temper. Despite his many accolades, his tenure as a judge was marred by blaming a 12 year old girl for her own rape by three older boys who were let off with a slap on the wrist.

Macrossan was deputy chancellor of Griffith University from 1985. In 1988 he was appointed chancellor and continued as chancellor until 2000. He was made an honorary doctor of the university in 2001.

In 1989 he was appointed Chief Justice of Queensland following the retirement of Sir Dormer Andrews. Whilst he was not the most senior judge at the time, Justices Kelly and Connolly were near retirement, and were happy for Macrossan’s elevation.

In 1991 the Queensland Government created a separate Court of Appeal with a President. The court was created with opposition from the Supreme Court and without consultation of the Queensland legal profession. Macrossan was opposed to this course as a similar Court of Appeal set up in New South Wales led to many years of bitter feelings as judges' seniority was interfered with. The legislation setting up this court also removed some of the chief justice’s jurisdiction over that court. The work, which the new court performed, was work which the Supreme Court sitting as a Full Court traditionally undertook. Macrossan sustained a discreet battle with the Government to rectify this, which finally occurred in 1997 after the election of a new Government. Macrossan is said to have seen this as his most significant achievement.

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