Former Townsville District Court judge and eminent silk John Baulch SC passed away suddenly on Monday.
Mr Baulch, 74, was admitted as a solicitor and a barrister of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in 1969 and served as a judge of the Queensland District Court between 9 September 2010 and 21 February 2017.
Queensland’s Chief Judge of the District Court Brian Devereaux SC, in a statement obtained by QLS Proctor, paid tribute to Mr Baulch’s almost 50-years of dedicated service to the law and said he would be greatly missed by his former colleagues.
Judge Devereaux also made special mention of Mr Baulch’s family – saying his thoughts were with his wife, Christine, their three daughters and grandchildren.
“Judge John Baulch SC came to the District Court after a long and successful career as a barrister, including 12 years as a silk,’’ Judge Devereaux said. “Having practised for the greater part of his career at Townsville, he went on to serve the North Queensland community at the very busy Townsville court.
“Judge Baulch maintained interests outside court – he was great company and celebrated the successes of his beloved Geelong Football Club.
“He was a valued and capable colleague and will be missed by his former colleagues.’’
According to his Queensland judicial profile, in 1970 Mr Baulch was admitted as a solicitor and a barrister of the Supreme Court of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, and as a solicitor and a barrister and of the High Court of the Western Pacific in 1973.
In 1975, he was admitted to the High Court of Australia as a barrister, and to the Supreme Court of Queensland as a solicitor in 1974 and a barrister in 1977.
In 1998, he was appointed Senior Counsel and became an accredited mediator under the Australian National Mediator Accreditation System in 2008.
Mr Baulch practised as a barrister throughout Townsville, Hobart and Papua and New Guinea until appointed a judge of the District Court of Queensland in 2010.
He retired as a judge of the District Court of Queensland on 21 February 2017.
One Response
What a tragedy. He was for sure one of the best in his profession – so insightful and unique in his perspectives judicially. He will be dearly missed by everyone at the District Court.