The Reception of the English Law Abroad
Published 2007
RRP AUD 88.00
560 pages
ISBN 9780975123096
The reception of English law abroad has antecedents that can be traced back as far as Ireland in the late 12th century. But it is to the settlement of Virginia 400 years ago that the legal systems of the former colonial empire owe their beginnings.
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About SCQL
The Supreme Court of Queensland Library is the primary legal information provider in Queensland, servicing:
- the Queensland Courts, including the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts;
- members of the legal profession;
- libraries;
- researchers;
- schools; and
- members of the public.
For contact information, as well as location and access details, see Visiting the SCQL.
The Library maintains an extensive research quality collection and provides a range of information services, including reference and research assistance, document delivery, judgment indices and current awareness. These services are widely available to members of the legal profession and, in most instances, to the Queensland public.
The principal collection and service centre is located on level 12 of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law in Brisbane, with a subsidiary collection adjacent to the Judges' Chambers in the Supreme Court. Collections are also housed at regional courthouses in Cairns, Ipswich, Mackay, Maroochydore, Mount Isa, Rockhampton, Toowoomba and Townsville.
The Library is administered by the Library Committee under the Supreme Court Library Act 1968. The Committee is chaired by a Supreme Court Judge appointed by the Chief Justice, and is comprised of representatives from the District Court, Magistrates Courts, Queensland Bar Association, Queensland Law Society and the Department of Justice.
In 2000, the Library established the Supreme Court History Program to preserve Queensland’s legal heritage and ensure its accessibility to the wider community. Curatorial functions include oral history, publishing, lectures, exhibitions and displays, as well as providing a repository for the collection and preservation of Queensland’s legal history. In recent years, the Supreme Court of Queensland Library has also initiated related programs, including a scholarly Publishing Program and Historical Document Digitisation Program.
Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Heritage Centre
The SCQL curates the Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Heritage Centre, a museum quality exhibition space open to the public and located on the ground floor of the Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law.
Sir Harry Gibbs Legal Heritage Centre
The inaugural exhibition traces 150 years of Queensland's legal history, with a focus on the concept of the Rule of Law. This legal maxim requires government and individuals to abide by particular laws and holds that no man can be made to suffer punishment for any conduct not forbidden by law.
The Matrix wall
The Centre features an interactive touch table with a detailed timeline of the Court's history and five matrix screens showcasing Queensland judges and courthouses, the work of the Incorporated Council for Law Reporting and 'A Day in the Life of the Court'. Another section is dedicated to the Rt Hon Sir Harry Gibbs GCMG AC KBE, former Chair of the Library Committee (1963 to 1967) and the second Queenslander to serve as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia (1981 to 1987).
The Court's treasures are also on display and include a ceremonial Staff and a commemorative book, which records the names of all Supreme Court judges from 1859 to present. These items were presented to the Court by the Bar Association of Queensland and the Queensland Law Society respectively, to celebrate the sesquicentenary of the Supreme Court in 2011.