Annual Geoffrey Sawer Lecture
Named after the first Professor of Law at the ANU College of Law, Geoffrey Sawer, this annual lecture is presented by noted national and international legal luminaries.
Past events
- Philip Alston AO
Philip Alston AO presents the 24th Annual Geoffrey Sawer Lecture, 'Human Rights: Beyond Tragedies and Atrocities'.
- Professor Megan Davis
Professor Megan Davis presents the 2022 Geoffrey Sawer Lecture, reflecting on the Uluṟu Statement from the Heart in the context of modern federalism and specifically the practice of Australian federalism.
- Professor Anne Twomey
Join Professor Anne Twomey as she discusses how Brexit and the Turnbull/Dutton leadership challenge have given rise to serious consideration about how a Prime Minister might advise the Queen or Governor-General in this year's Geoffrey Sawer Lecture.
- Hon Justice Stephen Gageler AC
- The Hon Dr Annabelle Bennett, AO SC
What do appellate courts do when faced with an argument or an issue not raised below? What do appellate courts do when they want to, or are asked to, come to a conclusion as to which there is no evidence?
- Justice Daphne Barak Erez, Supreme Court of Israel
- Deborah Glass OBE, Victorian Ombudsman
- Professor Michael Coper, ANU College of Law The Australian National University
On the occasion of the 16th annual lecture, Professor Michael Coper takes a look at the man himself and his contribution to Australian legal and political life. How does his scholarship stand up today, when so much has changed in the legal and political landscape?
- Professor Adrienne Stone, The University of Melbourne
The tension between law and democracy is most vividly illustrated by constitutional law: courts exercise their powers to over-turn the work of the democratically elected arms of government.
- The Right Honourable Madam Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin, PC, Canadian Chief Justice
The Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin was appointed Chief Justice of Canada on January 7, 2000. She had been appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Canada in 1989. Prior to that, she was Chief Justice of the British Columbia Supreme Court from 1988 to 1989, a judge of the British Columbia Court of Appeal from 1985 to 1988, a judge of the British Columbia Supreme Court from 1981 to 1985, and a judge of the Vancouver County Court from April 1981 to September 1981.
