Last Updated on 33 minutes ago by Vijay Kumar
William Montague Charles Gummow AC, one of Australia’s distinguished jurists and a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, has died at the age of 83.
The High Court of Australia announced his passing on September 17, 2026, saying it recorded with sadness the recent death of Justice Gummow. He served on the High Court from 1995 until his retirement in 2012.
Governor-General of Australia wrote on Facebook on 17 September 2026, “Vale The Honourable William Gummow AC The Governor-General was saddened to learn of the passing of former Justice of the High Court of Australia, The Honourable William Gummow AC, whose distinguished career left an enduring mark on Australia’s legal and academic life.”
“Justice Gummow devoted more than four decades to the law as a barrister, judge, teacher and author. Called to the New South Wales Bar in 1976 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986, he went on to serve on the Federal Court of Australia before his elevation to the High Court in 1995. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1997 in recognition of his service to the law.”
The Supreme Court of New South Wales also paid tribute to Gummow, describing him as one of Australia’s distinguished equity and constitutional lawyers.
Born in Sydney in 1942, William Gummow studied arts and law at the University of Sydney. He was admitted to legal practice as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1966 and was called to the New South Wales Bar in 1976.
Gummow was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1986 and became a Justice of the Federal Court of Australia that same year. In 1995, he was appointed to the High Court of Australia, where he served for 17 years.
Alongside his judicial career, Gummow was an influential legal academic and author. He taught intellectual property and equity at the University of Sydney Law School and co-authored major legal works including Equity: Doctrines and Remedies and editions of Jacobs’ Law of Trusts in Australia.
After retiring from the High Court, he held professorial appointments at the Australian National University College of Law and the University of Sydney Law School. In 2013, he was appointed a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, a position he continued to hold until his death.
Gummow was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1997 in recognition of his service to the law.
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