The Hon Justice Duncan Kerr, Chev LH
LLB BA (SocW)
Federal Court of Australia
Justice Kerr was a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 2012 to 2022 and as well, served as President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2012 to 2017.
Before his appointment he practised as a barrister and specialised in public law, constitutional and administrative law, refugee and human rights law and appellate work.
Justice Kerr was appointed Senior Counsel in 2004. He was also Adjunct Professor of Law, Queensland University of Technology and President of Greening Australia Ltd.
Justice Kerr served in the Commonwealth Parliament as the member for Denison for 23 years (1987–2010). He was Attorney-General (1993) and Minister for Justice (1993–1996) in the Keating Government and Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs (2007–2009) in the Rudd Government.
In August 2011 Justice Kerr was conferred with the insignia of Chevalier of the Legion of Honour by the Ambassador of France for defending values dear to France and for his role as Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs in enhancing friendly ties between Australia and France.
Before his election to the House of Representatives, Justice Kerr had served as Crown Counsel for the State of Tasmania, Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Papua New Guinea and Principal Solicitor for the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW).
Justice Kerr is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Law.