Samuel Griffith Becomes Chief Justice

Date: October 5, 1903 • Location: Barton, Australia

Samuel Griffith (pictured) became the first Chief Justice of Australia, while Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor became the first Puisne Justices of the High Court of Australia.

Sir Samuel Walker Griffith was an Australian judge and politician who served as the inaugural chief justice of Australia, in office from 1903 to 1919. He also served a term as chief justice of Queensland and two terms as premier of Queensland, and played a key role in the drafting of the Australian Constitution.