Sir Edward Williams - On the Bench

Edward Stratten Williams was appointed to the Queensland Supreme Court on 13 May 1971. At his swearing in he surprised the more traditional members of the court by thanking his wife and declaring her to be “a damned good cook too!” – an irreverent comment for 1971.

A vigorous and no-nonsense Judge, he was determined to resolve disputes with the greatest possible efficiency. His advice to Justice Kevin Ryan on his appointment summed up his judicial modus operandi: "Never reserve”.

Law Term Church Service.
(Williams, first from right, second row)

…Mr Justice Williams, as trial judge, proceeded to give a comprehensive, lengthy, apparently ex tempore judgment. I, for one, was astounded at the quality of such a judgment delivered off the cuff in a very difficult case…His judgment was, incidentally, upheld by both the Full Court and the High Court. The High Court, I noticed, took two months to deliver its judgment.

Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, 10 February 1999

Sir Edward resigned from the Supreme Court bench in 1984, but later resumed judicial duties as a part-time member of the Fiji Court of Appeal from 1993 to 1996.

In recognition of his services, Sir Edward was awarded Fiji’s Anniversary of Independence Medal.

Swearing in Ceremony in Fiji