Supreme Court judge appointed professor of practice
The Honourable Kevin Ball AM QC has been appointed as Monash Law’s new director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, after a highly effective career as an advocate.
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Professor Bell is a leading human rights jurist and formerly a justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, where he spent more than 15 years. He retired in March 2020 to commit fully to the Castan Centre and promote international human rights law.
“His honour has been instrumental in enforcing human rights as fundamental legal rights within the Victorian justice system. His Honour’s judgements have been highly influential in the human rights field in Australia generally,” Monash Law wrote in a statement.
He is known particularly for his work in enforcing the rights of minors, people with disabilities and unrepresented litigants. His judgments address a range of rights, including freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, the right to security and the right for privacy.
During his time in the Supreme Court, he served as president of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Prior to this, he practiced as a barrister at Victorian Bar for 20 years, eight of which was served as a member of the Queen’s counsel.
In 2017, he was recognised as a member of the Order of Australia for “significant service” to the law and to the judiciary, to native title and human rights, and to the community.
“It is with great pleasure that we welcome Professor Bell to the Castan Centre and Monash University. We look forward to working together and continuing our vital work of promoting human rights in Australia and abroad,” the law school said.
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Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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