Page 1456 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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completely unbiased and unprejudiced opinion, he rounds up the top three halfbacks produced at St Edmund’s, alongside Ricky Stuart and George Gregan.
Michael went on to study law at the ANU. Upon graduating, he secured a position at a top law firm. It was not long before Michael had established himself as a distinguished solicitor. He was made partner at the age of 30. In 1985, at only 42 years of age, he was invited by the federal Attorney-General to take up a judicial position as a magistrate and coroner. For over two decades, Magistrate Somes served his community as a fair and respected judge.
Magistrate Somes was known for his keen legal mind, humility and integrity. Of course, he was also very recognisable by his distinctive moustache and impeccable three-piece suits. He was consistent, he was conscientious and he always sought to understand the people who stood before him in court. He was the epitome of judicial integrity and was inherently fair-minded. If you came before Magistrate Somes, you knew that you would get a fair hearing. A demonstration of his integrity was that he was equally respectful to people he would meet on the street, people on the sidelines of a rugby field or perhaps people at the intermission of a show.
Many barristers were shaped by the masterclass that was his courtroom. They learned lessons in court craft, fairness and humanity. The President of the ACT Bar Association, Steve Whybrow, observed:
His impact on so many has been lasting and anyone who ever appeared before Magistrate Somes will have a funny, fond or interesting story to tell—mostly likely all three.
Ms Rebecca Curran said of her time with Magistrate Somes:
As his associate, he was a great mentor, a man of great compassion, dignity and empathy.
Magistrate Somes’s influence continues today on the bench. For example, Magistrate Glenn Theakston remarked that he had appeared before Magistrate Somes on many occasions and, when appointed to the bench, modelled his own courtroom approach on that of Magistrate Somes. He recalled Magistrates Somes’s structured approach to hearings and when giving reasons, and the pace at which he read his orders. Magistrate Somes had a calm demeanour and an understanding about the parties who appeared before him. He was always balanced in his decisions. Magistrate Somes also made a significant contribution to modernising the listing arrangements of the court.
Judge Kate Hughes of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia said that she always held him up as a model of judicial integrity. The Hon Justice Shane Gill of the Family Court of Australia remarked of Magistrate Somes:
He was such an influence. Decent in difficult work.
In his retirement, Magistrate Somes enjoyed photography and gardening.
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