Peter Underwood
| His Excellency The Honourable Peter George Underwood AC |
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| 27th Governor of Tasmania | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2 April 2008 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Paul Lennon, David Bartlett |
| Preceded by | William Cox AC RFD ED QC |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 October 1937 United Kingdom |
| Nationality |  Australian |
| Spouse(s) | Frances |
| Residence | Government House, Hobart |
| Alma mater | University of Tasmania |
| Website | http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/governor/ |
Peter George Underwood AC (born 10 October 1937) is currently the Governor of Tasmania. He was formerly the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania from 2004 to 2008, having been a judge of that court from 1984.
Peter Underwood was born in 1937 in the United Kingdom,[1] and emigrated to Australia in 1950. He served in the Royal Australian Navy first as a National Serviceman and then in the Reserve as a sub-lieutenant.[2] He graduated from the University of Tasmania in 1960, and practised law in Hobart for the law firm Murdoch, Clarke, Cosgrove and Drake. He was a distinguished trial advocate for over twenty years. He was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court in August 1984.[3]
He has previously managed and taught postgraduate courses in advocacy and Supreme Court practice through the University of Tasmania's Centre for Legal Practice, and continues to teach advocacy in all states of Australia with the Advocacy Institute of Australia. He has also taught for The College of Law (UK) in Hong Kong and London.[4]
Mr. Underwood has a special interest in the reform of civil procedure. He pioneered case management in Tasmania in 1989 and was instrumental in the development and use of technology as an aid to judicial work.[4]
He has also served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Governors of the Friends' School from 1989 to 1994, and was chairman of the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra Board from 1997 to 2006.
In 2001, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in recognition of his services to legal education, the arts and the administration of justice.[4]
In June 2002 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.[5]
He was appointed to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania on 2 December 2004.[3]
Mr. Underwood is a former deputy president of the Australian Defence Force Disciplinary Appeal Tribunal and was the President of the Australian Institute of Judicial Administration from 2002 to September 2004.[2]
On 3 March 2008, Premier Paul Lennon announced the appointment of Peter Underwood as the next Governor of Tasmania, and he was sworn in on 2 April 2008.[6]
On 8 June 2009, he was made a Companion of the Order of Australia.[7]
[edit] References
- ^ The Hon Justice Peter George Underwood, AO (2004-2008), Supreme Court of Tasmania, 4 September 2009.
- ^ a b Defence Force Appeals Tribunal - Peter Underwood
- ^ a b Supreme Court: Current Judges
- ^ a b c Premier of Tasmania - speech on appointment of Chief Justice
- ^ It's an Honour: AO
- ^ "Peter Underwood named new Governor". The Mercury. 2008-03-03. http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,23310256-921,00.html. Retrieved 2008-03-03.[dead link]
- ^ It's an Honour: AC
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by William Cox |
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania 2004–2008 |
Succeeded by Ewan Crawford |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by William Cox |
Governor of Tasmania 2008–present |
Incumbent |
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