29 March 2013 - THE HONOURABLE JUSTICE SHANE MARSHALL - Guest Judge

THE HONOURABLE

JUSTICE SHANE MARSHALL

- Guest Judge -

Federal Court of Australia

G'day guys,

Today it is my pleasure to present a man of distinction within the Australian legal system - The Honourable Justice Shane Marshall. Who is he? What does he do? 

Shane Raymond Marshall was appointed to the Federal Court of Australia and the Industrial Relations Court of Australia in July 1995. He became an additional judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory in January 2004.

Justice Marshall graduated from Monash University as a Bachelor of Economics and Law (Honours). After a short time in practice as a solicitor, he was called to the Victorian Bar in 1981. He was employed as a tutor in industrial and administrative law at Monash University in his early years at the bar. In 2003 he received a Centenary Medal for services to industrial relations. Also in 2003, he was appointed as a trustee of the Caulfield Racecourse reserve.

In 2005 he became an Associate Member of the Judicial System Monitoring Program of East Timor and in 2006 he became an Associate Member of the Indigenous Law Students and Lawyers Association of Victoria. On 2 April 2008, Justice Marshall was appointed to the Board of the Law Faculty, Monash University. 

Morning, your Honour. Tell us more ...

 What is you current job? 

 Federal Court Judge.

Why did you choose law? Any regrets? 

I considered it an instrument for social change. No.

What would be your second choice for a career? Why? 

Social worker assisting disadvantaged members of our community. Would be a worthwhile pursuit. 

What organisations have you worked for? 

Maurice Blackburn and Co and Federal Court of Australia.

What is your definition of human rights? 

The right of all people to live in peace and be accorded respect and dignity free from persecution, harassment and disadvantage.

Who do you admire most in the legal profession? 

Pro bono lawyers.

What are the biggest human rights issues in the world as you see them? 

Racism, religious persecution and suppression of worker’s rights. 

How can ordinary people help or become involved in those issues? 

Stand up to offenders.

How can writers and authors help? 

By publicising human rights violations.

Do you think much about world poverty, refugees, asylum seekers and homeless people? 

 Often.

Do you become frustrated by the lack of political will regarding social justice issues? 

Yes.

What has been your greatest victory? 

Overcoming depression.

What has been the saddest moment in your work? 

The untimely death of a colleague. 

What are your biggest frustrations? 

 Insufficient colleagues to perform the work of the court in a timely fashion.

What are your greatest assets? 

My staff, family and friends.

Would you like to see more women involved in the law?  

Yes, because they are better at it then men.

Generally, are politicians doing what we elect them and pay them to do? 

Yes.

Is the world lacking people of great vision? 

No.

Do you believe that some good things are being achieved in human rights? 

Yes. 

Any advice for a young person considering law? 

Be yourself and stand up to bullies.

If you had an opportunity to address all world leaders what would you say? 

Give peace a chance.

If you had the chance to be whatever you wanted, what would you be? 

Secretary-General of the United Nations or Collingwood Football Club Captain.

Are you concerned about the environment? 

Yes.

What worries you most? 

That most people seem concerned only about things that immediately and directly affect them and their bank balances.

Speeches by Justice Marshall:

http://www.fedcourt.gov.au/publications/judges-speeches/justice-marshall

Clancy's comment: I have read several speeches made by Justice Marshall and have been impressed by his passion and dedication to justice. 

Thank you, your Honour, for taking the time to be interviewed. Love ya work! However, I must say it did take some courage for me to include the logo of your football club. 

I'm ...

Anzac Day, Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Go Bombers!

28 March 2013 - REPARTEE'

REPARTEE'

G'day guys,

Here are some interesting quips from some famous people ...

Thomas Reed vs. Henry Clay

 

Winston Churchill vs. Lady Astor

NYC Mayor Ed Koch vs. Andrew Kirtzman, after the reporter insisted on pressing a point about an inconsistent statement Koch had made

  
Groucho Marx vs. a contestant on “You Bet Your Life,” after the contestant revealed that he was a father of 10
 

 Abraham Lincoln vs. Stephen Douglas, after Douglas called him “two-faced” during a debate

 Pierre Trudeau vs. Richard Nixon, upon hearing that Nixon had called him an asshole.

  
Oscar Wilde vs. Lewis Morris… Morris had just been passed over for the Poet Laureateship

Miriam Hopkins vs. an anonymous singer

James McNeill Whistler vs. Oscar Wilde, after Whistler had made a particularly witty observation

Senator Fritz Hollings vs. Henry McMastor, when challenged by his Republican opponent during a televised debate to take a drug test.

 Bill Clinton vs. Dan Quayle, after Quayle revealed that he planned to be “a pit bull” in the 1992 campaign against Clinton and Gore.

 
Reverend Edward Everett Hale vs. the U.S. Senate, when asked if he prayed for the Senators.

Edna Ferber vs. Noel Coward… Coward was remarking upon the fact that Ferber was wearing a tailored suit

Henry Clay vs. Massachusetts Senator Daniel Webster after seeing a pack of mules walk by

  
Winston Churchill vs. a Member of Parliament

Calvin Coolidge vs. some random lady at a White House dinner

  

 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart vs. an admirer

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27 March 2013 - EVANGELIA ROUTOULA - Guest Lawyer

EVANGELIA

ROUTOULA

- Guest Lawyer -

G'day guys,

Today I have the pleasure of introducing a very committed lawyer from Greece; currently residing in London - Evangelia Routoula. Evangelia is a barrister of the Supreme Court of Athens. She is also quite fluent in 3 languages and has a great command of the English language - spoken and written. Her skills have enabled her to communicate and work with a global community in addition to her native location.

Welcome, Evangelia ...

WHAT’S YOUR CURRENT JOB?

I am a barrister of the Supreme Court of Greece and I have worked as a barrister in Athens, Greece for more than 15 years. I currently live in London looking for new challenges and trying to establish a new career for myself.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE LAW? ANY REGRETS?

Studying law was a childhood dream of mine, ever since I remember myself I have always wanted to become a lawyer. I have always had this ideal thought in my mind to fight for the right and to help other people gain justice. Even though practising law can sometimes be less idealistic, sometimes the difficulties to find the right path is not always straightforward. However, I‘ve never regretted having studied law. 

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR SECOND CHOICE FOR A CAREER? WHY?

Literature has always been a passion of mine, having translated two books from English into Greek for my own pleasure and after getting into the world of book publishing I have discovered that I love translating. So I think that it would be my second choice for a career.

WHAT ORGANISATIONS HAVE YOU WORKED FOR?

I have worked for two main law offices in Athens as a barrister and for Kalendis Publications in Athens as a literature translator.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF HUMAN RIGHTS?

For me human rights can be defined as every individual’s right to life, work, equal opportunities, freedom of speech, respect , privacy and generally all the elements, that us who live in the so called Western world take for granted sometimes. 

WHO DO YOU ADMIRE MOST IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION?

I don’t have a certain person to name. I admire every person in the legal profession who tries to do their job with honesty and integrity, who tries to fight for justice without their first goal to be their personal profit.

WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES IN THE WORLD AS YOU SEE THEM?

Many human rights are been violated all over the world on a daily basis but the main problem for me is that too many people are struggling for their right to live with integrity, peace, being able to maintain their thoughts and ideas and the way of life they want to have.

HOW CAN ORDINARY PEOPLE HELP, OR BECOME INVOLVED IN THOSE ISSUES?

Every single one of us should first of all be aware of certain situations before being able to get actively involved. Knowledge is vital since it might lead to awareness. The second most important thing is that each and every one of us should realise that if we remain silent and inactive when acknowledging a certain issue, that issue sooner or later, may affect us personally and then there may not be other people interested to help us.

HOW CAN WRITERS AND AUTHORS HELP?

By writing, we can always apply to the ignorance and to the indifference of the readers. Making them aware of certain problems, showing them how they could help. 

DO YOU THINK MUCH ABOUT WORLD POVERTY, REFUGEES, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE?

If I use the word often I would be exaggerating. But I do think about people who face these kinds of problems whenever a certain incident reaches my ears or a certain book, film, discussion stimulates my personal awareness to these matters.

 DO YOU BECOME FRUSTRATED BY THE LACK OF POLITICAL WILL REGARDING SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES?

Almost every day!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST VICTORY?

I think my biggest achievement was when I gained a trial for bond investors who lost their money due to the economic crisis that arose a couple of years ago.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE SADDEST MOMENT IN YOUR WORK?

When a poor client of mine had to pay an enormous amount of money to the Greek State in order to correct a mistake done by the Greek State regarding the identity of her son.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST FRUSTRATIONS?

Injustice and bureaucracy. 

WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST ASSETS?

Persistence and analytical thinking.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE WOMEN INVOLVED IN LAW? WHY?

I think that many women are involved in law. For me it doesn’t matter if a lawyer is a woman or a man providing he/she does his or her job right.

GENERALLY, ARE POLITICIANS DOING WHAT WE ELECT AND PAY THEM TO DO?

No, they don’t.

IS THE WORLD LACKING PEOPLE OF GREAT VISION?

Yes. We need more dreamers and more romantics to take the lead. Unfortunately the people that are involved in politics are the ones with no vision. 

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT SOME GOOD THINGS ARE BEING ACHIEVED IN HUMAN RIGHTS?

Some things have been achieved especially if a public outcry takes place, but I am very suspicious about many of the existing humanitarian organisations. The way some of them operate feels more like a commercial firm’s function rather that a humanitarian organization.

ANY ADVICE FOR A YOUNG PERSON CONSIDERING LAW?

I would advise them to always have in mind that they will be representing the RIGHT.

IF YOU HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS ALL WORLD LEADERS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY?

I would tell them to think for a change about the ordinary people that they represent and their needs, to get into their shoes and to do something for their good. Just for a change.

IF YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO BE WHATEVER YOU WANTED, WHAT WOULD YOU BE?

A writer or a traveller.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT?

Yes, as an individual I am trying to do whatever I can but I think that the solution to the environmental issues is in the hands of the people who make important decisions in this world.

WHAT WORRIES YOU MOST?

That there are not many things that the ordinary people can actually do to help.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

Animals. They are more pure, more innocent and more loving than humans. 

WHAT, OR WHO, HAS BEEN THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR LIFE?

Many, everyday anonymous heroes.

WHAT’S YOUR GREATEST DREAM?

To travel around the world.

WHO WOULD BE ON YOUR LIST OF ‘OUTSTANDING PEOPLE’?

Lord Byron, Charles Dickens, Albert Schweitzer, Napoleon Lapathiotis. 

WHAT DO YOU DO TO RELAX?

Watching films, reading, walking.

DESCRIBE YOUR PERFECT DAY?

Being with people that I love and my dog, going to the theatre and writing. 

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?

Sickness.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PLACE?

London.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN THREATENED?

No.

WHAT DO YOU MOST LOOK FORWARD TO?

A trip to Zimbabwe.

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP FIVE BOOKS TO READ?

Charles Dicken’s “A tale of two cities”

Jack Kerouak’s  “On the road”

Jack London’s “Martin Eden”

Henry Melvil’s “Moby Dick”

Jennifer Lash’s “Blood Ties”

HOW DO YOU PROMOTE YOURSELF?

Unfortunately for me I don’t promote myself at all. 

DO YOU MENTOR ANYONE?

No.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE FUTURE?

Grey. And getting darker.

 

Clancy's comment: Thanks, Evangelia. It's been a pleasure to have you as a guest. Keep fighting injustice! Love ya work!

I'm ...