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Alma mater University of Western AustraliaKing's College LondonChrist Church Grammar School | ||
Wayne Stewart Martin AC (born 28 December 1952) is the current Chief Justice of Western Australia. He was formally appointed on 1 May 2006. Martin is also the Lieutenant-Governor of Western Australia, having been sworn in on 9 October 2009. In that role, he has served as Administrator of the State on two occasions when the position of Governor of Western Australia is vacant: from 2 May to 1 July 2011, following the expiration of Ken Michael's term, and from 1 July 2014 to October 2014, following the expiration of Malcolm McCusker's term.
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Early life and education
Martin was born on 28 December 1952 and attended North Perth Primary School and Christ Church Grammar School. He graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1973, with a Bachelor of Laws and First Class Honours. Martin completed his articled clerkship with Lavan & Walsh, and subsequently completed a Master of Laws degree at King's College London. He was admitted to practice in Western Australia in 1977, and was a partner of the law firm Keall Brinsden (now Corrs Chambers Westgarth) until joining the independent bar in 1988. He was made a QC in 1993.
Legal career
In addition to his work as a barrister, Martin is a former chairman of the Western Australian Law Reform Commission, president of the Administrative Review Council, chair of the Defamation Law Reform Committee and president of the Western Australia Bar Association. In addition, he is a former president of the Law Society of Western Australia and a director of the Law Council of Australia.
Judicial career
Since becoming Chief Justice, Martin has spoken out about the need to enhance access to justice and improve the efficiency of the legal system. He has also come to the defence of the legal system in the wake of criticisms in some sections of the media that resulted from several high-profile miscarriages of justice. As chief justice of the WA Supreme Court Justice Martin earns a salary of $396,545, which will increase with effect from 1 July 2010 to $408,441.
Honours
On 11 June 2012, Chief Justice Martin was named an Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the judiciary and to the law, particularly as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, to legal reform and education, and to the community."