Ernst Willheim is a Visiting Fellow at the ANU College of Law. Between 1967 and 1998 he worked for the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department where he headed several policy and professional Divisions, led Australian delegations to international conferences and appeared as counsel for the Commonwealth in the High Court and other appellate courts.

Since his ‘retirement’ he has pursued research and published in several public law areas including native title, racial discrimination administrative law, judicial accountability, constitutional law, international law and refugee law and has acted pro bono as counsel, including a successful complaint to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. He recently appeared as amicus curiae in the High Court challenge to the Northern Territory Emergency legislation.