Two legal scholars at the ANU College of Law put legal theory and public law under the microphone on a regular basis on their weekly podcast, ‘Secondary Rules’.
Ryan Goss
Associate Professor
BA(Hons I), LLB(Hons I) (UQ); BCL(Dist), DPhil (Oxon)
ANU College of Law, Bld 6, Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
ANU College of Law, 5 Fellows Rd, Acton ACT 2600
Research Themes
Research Centre
Biography
I'm a Queenslander at the ANU Law School. In my writing, research, and teaching I'm interested in the legal questions that define our democracy, and the interface between law, politics, and government: constitutional law and human rights law. I regularly write and speak in the media and in the general community on a variety of public law issues, have done consultant and pro bono research work on related issues for a number of NGOs, and previously worked as a solicitor.
I also have a track record of university leadership and service, especially on scholarships and philanthropy. As Head of Scholars House for the ANU's Tuckwell Scholarship Program, I lead a diverse team of academic and professional staff overseeing Australia's most transformational undergraduate scholarship program. I also hold smaller roles with the Rhodes Scholarships and the Lionel Murphy Scholarships. Previously I was ANU Law's Director (2017-2019) of Higher Degree Research.
- BA(Hons I), LLB(Hons I) (UQ), BCL(Dist), DPhil (Oxon)
- Rhodes Scholar (Qld & Lincoln 2007)
- Ralph Chiles CBE Award (Oxford, 2008)
- University Medal (Law)(UQ, 2005)
- University Medal (Arts-History)(UQ, 2004)
- Admitted as Solicitor (Qld) in 2007
Appointments
Selected
- ANU: Associate Professor & Head of Scholars House (2019- ); Senior Lecturer (2016-18); Lecturer (2013-15)
- Lincoln College, University of Oxford: Junior Research Fellow in Law (2011-13)
Significant research publications
See 'Research' tab.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Recent news
08
Aug
2022
Guhong Zhou has landed a coveted graduate role at a top-tier Sydney law firm, capping off a memorable academic experience enriched by prizes, mentorship and an unshakeable focus.
19
Jul
2022
2022 Postgraduate Medallist Rebekah McWhirter (JD ’22) has a background in medical research and passion for health law.
04
Feb
2021
ANU public law scholars have supported a submission to the Federal Government urging the enshrinement of an Indigenous Voice in the Constitution.
In the Media
27
Jun
2022
Ryan Goss quoted in Canberra Times
6
Oct
2019
Ryan Goss speaks to ABC
1
Dec
2017
Ryan Goss speaks to News.com.au
15
Nov
2017
Ryan Goss quoted in News.com.au
Past events
12
Dec
2019
6.00PM to 7.00PM CIPL Seminar
- Ryan Goss
- Andrew Chapman
Join Dr Ryan Goss, ANU Law Associate Professor, and Andrew Chapman, Senior General Counsel, Office of General Counsel at Australian Government Solicitor, as they discuss what the UK Supreme Court ruling means for Brexit.
28
Sep
2017
12.30PM to 1.30PM CIPL International Law Lunchtime Seminar
- Dr Ryan Goss, ANU College of Law
Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights protects the right to a fair trial in civil and criminal proceedings. The Article 6 rights are the most heavily-litigated Convention rights before the European Court of Human Rights, generating a large and complex body of case law.
22
Mar
2017
5.30PM to 6.30PM Seminar
- Henry Burmester AO, QC
- Dr Ryan Goss, ANU College of Law
On 24 January 2017, the UK Supreme Court decided that Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union could not be triggered by an exercise of prerogative power. Instead, an Act of Parliament is required.
View more publications on the ANU Researchers website
Read selected publications in the ANU Digital Collection
Research biography
I work on human rights law (especially ECHR/UK) and Australian public law.
Research projects & collaborations
Summary of recent research projects:
- R Goss 'What do Australians Talk About When They Talk About 'Parliamentary Sovereignty'?' (Jan 2022) Public Law 55-75 (SSRN with earlier version here)
- R Goss "The Undermining of Article 6 ECHR" (2019) European Yearbook of Human Rights 295-312
- R Goss "Power & Propriety: Coper's Encounter with the Dismissal" in J Stellios (ed), Encounters with Constitutional Interpretation and Legal Education (Federation Press, 2018).
- R Goss "Out of Many, One? Strasbourg's Ibrahim Decision on Article 6" (2017) 80(6) Modern Law Review 1137–1163
- R Goss "Voting Rights and Australian Local Democracy" (2017) 40(3) UNSWLJ 1008
- R Goss “Balancing Away Article 6 in Home Office v Tariq: Fair Trial Rights in Closed Material Proceedings” in G Martin et al (eds), Secrecy, Law and Society (ch 4)(Routledge, 2015)
- R Goss Criminal Fair Trial Rights: Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2014).
- (Book longlisted for the Inner Temple Book Prize 2015, shortlisted for the Peter Birks Book Prize for Outstanding Legal Scholarship 2015, and cited by Sajó & Laffranque JJ in Ibrahim v United Kingdom (ECtHR (Grand Chamber), 2016).
- R Goss “To the serious detriment of the public: Secret evidence and closed material procedures” in L Lazarus & JC McCrudden (eds), Reasoning Rights: Comparative Judicial Engagement (Hart Publishing, Oxford, 2014)(pp118-134).
- Lazarus L & R Goss, “Criminal Justice Under the UK Human Rights Act” (2013) 25 Singapore Academy of Law Journal 755
Case notes & book reviews
- Goss R. “Book Review: Amnesties in the Age of Human Rights Accountability” (2013) 1 European H Rts Law Review 108
- Goss R. “Book Review: Criminal Evidence and Human Rights: Reimagining Common Law Procedural Traditions” (2012) 6 European H Rts Law Rev 713
- Goss R. “Book Review: Fair Trial Rights, 2nd Edn” (2011) 2 European H Rts Law Rev 237
- Goss R. “Book Review: Australian Constitutional Law & Theory” (2007) 27 Qld Lawyer 311
Other
PhD supervision
I am currently, and am willing to consider in future, supervising research projects at any level (including PhD/HDR/Masters/Honours/etc) in areas including:
- Australian constitutional law,
- European human rights law,
- Comparative human rights law,
- UK public law.
If you are interested in PhD/HDR study, I strongly encourage you to read the Law How to Apply for HDR site carefully.
Previous supervision:
- Dr Alice Taylor (Primary Supervisor, 2017-2020), A Creative Interpretation: a comparative study of statutory discrimination law. Now Assistant Professor, Faculty of Law, Bond University.
Current courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 |
LAWS8234 Class #1575 |
International and Comparative Human Rights Law |
Previous courses
| Year | Course code | Course name |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 |
LAWS6105 Class #5707 |
Australian Public Law |
| 2021 |
LAWS8234 Class #4639 |
International and Comparative Human Rights Law |
Philosophy & approach
- Australian Awards for University Teaching 2017: Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (Department of Education and Training, September 2017)
- Winner, ANU Law Award for Teaching Excellence (Excellence in Education Awards, 2016)
- ANU Law Excellence in Education Awards nominee: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- Oxford University Student Union Teaching Awards 2013, Shortlisted for 'Most Acclaimed Lecturer', Social Sciences Division, University of Oxford (June 2013)
Past courses
At the Australian National University (2013- ):
- Australian Public Law (JD and LLB)
- International & Comparative Human Rights Law (Masters and JD)
- Comparative Civil & Political Rights (Masters and JD)
At the University of Oxford (2010-2013):
- Constitutional Law (Lincoln College, Oxford; undergraduates; 2011, 2012)
- Administrative Law (Lincoln College, Oxford; undergraduates; 2012, 2013)
- Criminal Justice & Human Rights (Oxford; postgraduates; 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13) (co-taught with Prof Andrew Ashworth and Dr Liora Lazarus)
- Jessup International Law Moot coach/co-coach at University of Oxford (2009 and 2010)
How my works connects with public policy
My work relates to some of the biggest questions of public policy: how democracy functions, what limits are placed on what our governments can do, and what role is and ought to be played by we, the people.
I regularly write and speak in the media and in the general community on a variety of public law issues, and have done consultant and pro bono research on related issues for a number of NGOs.
