Swearing in of the Hon Justices White and Boddice

The Bar welcomes the appointments which bring us together at this ceremony.

Justice White

Justice White, your appointment is of a person steeped in experience of life, learning and the law.

At the opening of the Law Year Church Service held at St John’s Cathedral on Monday, the Very Reverend, Doctor Peter Catt, Dean of Brisbane, as part of his opening homily, said this:

Give understanding and integrity to all in our judicial system, so they may discern the truth, safeguard human rights, and administer the law with justice. Enable them to make wise decisions for the wellbeing of individuals and society …

Justice White, you have been a model in discharge of that entreaty.

Your Honour taught  many of my generation at university. You went on to become a colleague at the Bar, and then a Master and a Trial Division Judge. Your reputation is one of undertaking your judicial duties with skill, expediency and courtesy, all in good balance.

Your Honour, we wish you well in the discharge of your now full-time appellate duties.

Justice Boddice

Justice Boddice, you are a worthy appointee to this important court.

You harbour expertise across a raft of legal disciplines. Furthermore, you enjoy a neat balance of skill and calm at the interface of court advocacy.

Despite a busy practice in your 26 years as a barrister, you had time to serve as a Tribunal member and Corrective Services visitor.

In addition, the community of barristers in indebted to you for your service at an administrative level:

You were a member of the Council of the Bar Association from 2002 to 2004.

You were a member of the Association’s Professional Conduct Committee from 1998.

You were chair of the Association’s Continuing Professional Development Committee from 2007. CPD has been the Bar”s great success story and I will miss your counsel in this regards.

Your Honour was a member of the Advocacy Training Council of the Australian Bar Association from 2008.

You were a director of Barristers’ Chambers Ltd, the owner of the Inns of Court, form 1993 and you were chairman of the board of that company from 2006.

You were, under your appointment, Vice President of the Medico-Legal Society of Queensland, and a significant contributor to the education undertaken by the august body.

Justice Boddice, for all of your past service to the law, the bar and the community, and for your friendship, we thank you.

The Bar wishes you well, and we have every confidence in your performance of our judicial duties.

Richard Douglas S.C.

President