The Honourable Robert R Douglas SMOM., RFD., LL.B.,
QC., Judge, Supreme Court of Queensland, was born on 25 November 1944 in
Brisbane, Queensland, to James Archibald Douglas, (who later became the
48th judge of the court) and his wife, Marjorie Mary (nee Ramsay). He
was the older brother of James Sholto Douglas, who became the 98th judge
of the court. Douglas was educated at Villanova College, Brisbane,
before graduating Bachelor of Laws at the University of Queensland
(1968). He worked as associate to his father and, later, to Sheehy J.
On 19 December 1968, Douglas was admitted as a barrister of the
Supreme Court of Queensland. He then commenced a period of 30 years of
practice at the bar, taking silk on 25 November 1982. He married
Jennifer Farmar Horton on 1 April 1970. The couple had two sons -
William and Robert - and one daughter, Charlotte. Douglas served as
president of the Bar Association of Queensland (1992-1994) and president
of the Australian Bar Association (1993-94). He also served as president
of the Brisbane Club (1986-87), chairperson of the racing advisory
committee (1976-89), chairperson of Queensland TAB (1990-96, 1998-99), a
member of the committee of the Queensland Art Gallery Foundation
(1980-93), a member of the advisory board of the Mount Olivet Hospital
(1983-95), a member of the board of the Law Faculty at the Queensland
University of Technology. He also served as a wing commander in the
Royal Australian Air Force Reserve. He became a Knight of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta (1983) and received the Reserve Force Decoration
in 1985.
On 17 June 1999, Douglas was appointed a judge of the
Supreme Court of Queensland.
His earlier career included his
being:
Patron, Queensland Blind Association (1998-2002)
Chairman, Queensland TAB (1998-1999)
Member, Misconduct Tribunal of
the Criminal Justice Commission (1997-1998)
Chairman, Smith Family
Queensland Development Committee (1995-2002)
President, Australian
Bar Association (1993-1994)
President, Queensland Bar Association
(1992-1994)
Member, Law Council of Australia (1992-1994)
Senior
Vice-President, Australian Bar Association (1992-1993)
Chairman,
Queensland TAB (1990-1996)
Member, QUT Law Faculty Board (1989-1991)
President, Brisbane Club (1986-1987)
Member, Advisory Board, Mount
Olivet Hospital (1983-1995)
Committee member, Queensland Bar
Association (1982-1989)
Member, Committee, Queensland Art Gallery
Foundation (1980-1993)
Chairman, Racing Advisory Committee
(1976-1989)
Member, QUT Law School, Course Advisory Committee
(1976-1989)
Honorary Secretary, Australian Bar Association
(1976-1977)
Appointed Queen's Counsel, Victoria (-1984)
Appointed
Queen's Counsel, Queensland (-1982)
Admitted as a Barrister of the
Supreme Court of Victoria (-1982)
Admitted as a Barrister of the
Supreme Court of Queensland (-1968)
Defence Force Magistrate (-)
Judge Advocate (-)
Wing-Commander (RAAF Reserve) (-)
He died in office, at the age of 58, on 26
November 2002. |
