Kirby wins US legal award
Retired High Court judge Michael Kirby has been named the joint winner of a US legal award, the Gruber Justice Prize.
Kirby will share the accolade — and $578,000 in prize money — with South African Professor John Dugard.
Dugard has served on the United Nations International Law Commission and has been involved with humanitarian work in international law.
“I am conscious of the many people with whom I have worked over the years on human rights and justice who are equally deserving of recognition,” Kirby told The Sydney Morning Herald in a statement today.
Kirby went on to say the partners of Gruber Prize winners should also be awarded.
“My partner of 41 years, Johan van Vloten, definitely deserves a prize for putting up with me. Probably the Victoria Cross,” he told the SMH.
Kirby has held several posts with the United Nations over the years, including work with the World Health Organisation Global Commission on AIDS and UNAIDS.
The prize will be officially presented at George Washington University in Washington, DC, on October 11.
The documentary presented on Compass on 27/6 was outstanding! How very blessed we are to have such an inspring and admirable man as a role model for how we as members of society and indeed humanity, should all behave towards one another. We thank you for your huge contributions to the law;for being the measured voice of reason and compassion in a society that can regrettably at times be enveloped by a cacophony of bigotry and xenophobic attitudes and congratulate you on your numerous achievements.On a personal note, I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for being such an influential role model and source of inspiration for so many young Australians and in particular my son who is in his 4th year of a 5 year Law/Arts degree and who is passionate about Human Rights, the issues faced by Indigenous Australians and Native Title.His girlfriend is also completing a post graduate law degree and both of them are avid readers of your essays and writings and keen observers of your judgements. I feel very proud that they have been able to choose someone of your calibre with whom to identify with in terms of their world view towards human dignity and the basic human rights of every person. Many many thanks and Congratulations to both you and Johan on 41 years together and may you have very many more happy years together.
Justice Michael Kirby, you’re stil our cummunity’s role model. With much love, admiration & respect from Hell xo
Congratulations Michael…well deserved
The documentary about Michael Kirby, directed by Daryl Dellora and produced by Sue Maslin (Film Art Doco) screens on ABC1 Sunday 27th June 10.20 pm.
See pics of Michael Kirby and the crew and get news on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Film-Art-Media/129181527097315