Encounters with Constitutional Interpretation and Legal Education

For a constitutional lawyer whose law school has just been reviewed by Michael Coper, it seemed karmic to review this book. Coper has made many illustrious contributions to constitutional law and legal education in his long career. He wrote a PhD and book on section 92, and had the satisfaction of the High Court unanimously adopting his view in Cole v Whitfield, in which he also appeared. He wrote Encounters with the Australian Constitution (1987), perhaps the only book on the Constitution that can be read for pleasure. He was a member of the briefly revived Inter-State Commission 1985-1988. He was Dean of ANU College of Law from 1998 to 2013. He has also taken a close interest in the judicial process, especially that of the High Court, and is a strong advocate of more statutory interpretation in law school. His passions for photography and oral history lead to a section exploring law and his life through different lenses. These interests and activities form the themes of the essays in this book, collected from a conference in 2016, including contributions from Stephen Gageler, Michael Kirby, Tony Blackshield, Adrienne Stone, Garry Sturgess, to name only a few. These encounters with the man and his passions through the lenses of experts who share them, will also lead readers to Coper’s own extensive and excellent writings. – Dr Matt Harvey, InPrint, Law Institute Journal Victoria, August 2018

Professor Coper will be known personally or by reputation to many of our readers. Briefly, Professor Michael Coper AO FAAL graduated from Sydney Law School in 1970, was a founder of the UNSW Law School from 1971 and was served as Dean of the ANU College of Law from 1998 – 2012. He was appointed Emeritus Professor of the ANU in 2017 and in 2018 he appointed Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his distinguished service to legal education. His book, ‘Encounters with the Australian Constitution’ which was first published in 1987 remains ‘the most accessible and exquisitely written exposition of Australian constitutional law’.

The contributors to this collection of essays include current and former justices of the High Court, leading members of the private Bar, and leading academics. Constitutional scholars and practitioners will appreciate the reflections and commentary on Professor Coper’s contribution to the development of constitutional law in this country. The essays also cover Professor Coper’s great interest in legal history exemplified by his role as an interviewer in the High Court of Australia Oral History project, and the volume would no doubt be incomplete without reflections on Professor Coper’s contribution to legal education. The collection ends with a reflective essay by Professor Coper himself. The essays will doubtless be of particular interest to those who know Professor Coper and are familiar with his work. – Queensland Law Reporter – 3 August 2018 – [2018] 30 QLR