The Hon Murray Herbert Tobias AM RFD KC (1939 – 2023)

06/03/2023

Vale

The Hon Murray Herbert Tobias AM RFD KC, former Judge of the Court of Appeal (2003-2016), President of the NSW Bar Association (1993-1995), Captain and Judge Advocate of the Royal Australian Navy, honorary life member of the New South Wales Bar Association and member of 6 Selborne Wentworth Chambers, passed away on 4 March 2023.

Members will be advised of funeral arrangements as soon as they are known.

Murray Tobias was educated at Scots College, Sydney. He attended the University of Sydney graduating Bachelor of Law with First Class Honours in 1961 and Oxford University on a scholarship where he graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law in 1963.

He was admitted to the NSW Bar in October 1964 and took silk in November 1978. He specialised in Equity, Commercial Law, Environmental Law and Administrative Law. He became a member of the Royal Australian Navy Reserve Legal Panel in 1968 with the rank of Lieutenant, retiring as Head of Panel when he turned 60 with the rank of Captain. At the time of his retirement he was a Judge Advocate and a Defence Force Magistrate.

He was President of the NSW Bar Association from 1993 to 1995. He was also senior vice president of the Australian Bar Association. In 1996 he was made an honorary life member of the New South Wales Bar Association.

In January 1998 he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the legal profession and to military law.

He was appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of NSW in April 2003. He retired as a permanent judge in 2011. He continued to hold a commission as an Acting Judge of Appeal until 26 March 2016.

In November 2014 he was appointed as one of two legal members of the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Sydney Childrens’ Hospitals’ Network which comprises the Children’s Hospital Westmead, The Prince of Wales Children’s Hospital and the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle.

Across his long career, he was a mentor and friend to many. And above all else, he was a devoted husband and family man. He will be remembered for his kindness, humility, integrity, selflessness, and generosity. He will be missed greatly.

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