# Justin Gleeson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Gleeson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Justin_Gleeson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Gleeson > Source revision: 1349683253 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Justin Thomas Gleeson** [SC](/source/Senior_Counsel) (born 9 April 1961[1]) is an Australian lawyer and former [Solicitor-General of Australia](/source/Solicitor-General_of_Australia),[2] the Commonwealth's second-ranking law officer. ## Early life and education Gleeson was educated at [St Patrick's College, Strathfield](/source/St_Patrick's_College,_Strathfield),[1] then the [University of Sydney](/source/University_of_Sydney), from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (University Medal[3] and First-Class Honours).[4] Gleeson undertook postgraduate studies in the law at the University of Oxford, where he earned a [Bachelor of Civil Law](/source/Bachelor_of_Civil_Law).[2] ## Career Gleeson was appointed Solicitor-General in 2012, having acted in that capacity since the departure of [Stephen Gageler](/source/Stephen_Gageler) the previous year. Prior to his appointment, Gleeson was the Head of [Banco Chambers](/source/Banco_Chambers). Following a disagreement with the [Commonwealth Attorney-General](/source/Attorney-General_for_Australia), [George Brandis](/source/George_Brandis), about a direction made by the Attorney-General which restricted access to the Solicitor-General, Gleeson announced that he would resign with effect from 7 November 2016. In his resignation letter, Gleeson stated that his relationship with the Attorney-General was "irretrievably broken".[5][6] Following his resignation, Gleeson rejoined private practice and returned to Banco Chambers, the chambers that he founded.[7] In addition to acting as counsel in domestic courts, Gleeson is also currently working as an international arbitrator.[7] In September 2017, Gleeson joined the legal team of [Tony Windsor](/source/Tony_Windsor), led by [Ron Merkel](/source/Ron_Merkel) , in the High Court case *Re: Joyce*, one of the seven cases constituting the [2017 Australian constitutional crisis](/source/2017_Australian_constitutional_crisis).[8] ## Personal life Justin is married to academic and author Dr [Bernadette Brennan](/source/Bernadette_Brennan). They have two daughters Madeline and Caitlin. His father is Gerald Gleeson AC, a former senior public servant in the Labor Government in New South Wales. One of his brothers, Fabian Gleeson, is a former judge of the [New South Wales Court of Appeal](/source/New_South_Wales_Court_of_Appeal).[9] His father-in-law is former High Court Chief Justice Sir [Gerard Brennan](/source/Gerard_Brennan). His elder daughter is author Madeline Gleeson.[10] ## References 1. ["Archived copy"](https://web.archive.org/web/20131004215933/http://www.banco.net.au/uploads/documents/Justin_Gleeson_SC_long-CV-december_2011_weblinks.pdf). Archived from [the original](http://www.banco.net.au/uploads/documents/Justin_Gleeson_SC_long-CV-december_2011_weblinks.pdf) on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-04. 1. ["Appointment of Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191111/http://www.nswbar.asn.au/circulars/2013/feb/gleeson.pdf). *nswbar.asn.au*. The Hon. Mark Dreyfus QC MP. Archived from [the original](http://www.nswbar.asn.au/circulars/2013/feb/gleeson.pdf) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016. 1. Ackland, Richard (29 October 2016). ["Solicitors-general support Justin Gleeson in argument with George Brandis"](https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2016/10/29/solicitors-general-support-justin-gleeson-argument-with-george-brandis). *The Saturday Paper* 1. ["Federation Press - Author: Justin T Gleeson"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190316211925/https://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/author.asp?id=1143). Archived from [the original](http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/author.asp?id=1143) on 16 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2013. 1. Gleeson, Justin (24 October 2016). ["Letter to the Attorney-General"](https://crikey-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2016/10/Letter-to-the-Attorney-General.pdf). Retrieved 24 October 2016. 1. Tingle, Laura (24 October 2016). ["Solicitor-General resigns citing irreconcilable differences with George Brandis"](http://www.afr.com/news/solicitorgeneral-resigns-citing-irreconcilable-differences-with-george-brandis-20161024-gs9e8g). [The Australian Financial Review](/source/The_Australian_Financial_Review). Retrieved 24 October 2016. 1. Butler, Ben (21 July 2017). ["Subscribe | theaustralian"](http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/former-solicitorgeneral-justin-gleeson-proud-of-tobacco-fight/news-story/57cffc6adac87da3288067587808c1b6). *www.theaustralian.com.au*. The Australian. Retrieved 29 October 2017. 1. Koziol, Michael (22 September 2017). ["Clash of the Titans: George Brandis' nemesis Justin Gleeson joins citizenship case against Barnaby Joyce"](http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/clash-of-the-titans-george-brandis-nemesis-justin-gleeson-joins-citizenship-case-against-barnaby-joyce-20170922-gymvqr.html). *The Sydney Morning Herald*. Retrieved 29 October 2017. 1. ["Swearing In Ceremony of the Honourable Justice Fabian Gleeson SC"](http://nswca.jc.nsw.gov.au/courtofappeal/Speeches/gleeson_20130429.pdf). 29 April 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2016. 1. Gadfly, *The Saturday Paper*, 14–20 May 2016, p. 17 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Justin Gleeson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Gleeson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Gleeson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.