Page 1458 - Week 06 - Thursday, 2 July 2020
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MR RAMSAY (Ginninderra—Attorney-General, Minister for the Arts, Creative Industries and Cultural Events, Minister for Building Quality Improvement, Minister for Business and Regulatory Services and Minister for Seniors and Veterans) (10.12): It is a privilege to speak in support of the motion and to express my condolences at the death of Michael A Somes.
In his role as a magistrate, Michael Somes was committed to improving access to justice in the territory. He actively participated in court reform, including the 1999 introduction of the case management system for criminal hearings. He presided over tens of thousands of matters, including the first case in the ACT where international human rights jurisprudence was applied.
In addition to his role as a magistrate, Michael Somes served as coroner, as President of the Credit Tribunal, as Deputy President of the Mental Health Tribunal and on the Discrimination Tribunal, the Guardianship and Management of Property Tribunal and the Health Professionals Tribunal. His contribution to the territory, in and through the law, was most significant.
As we have heard, in his spare time, or maybe his focus time, he was passionate about rugby. He served as chairman of the ACT rugby judiciary from 2009 and held this position until his passing.
His background and his passion have been well spoken of today, and fittingly so. However, Michael will be remembered for who he was as a person because of the way that he lived his life in law. Michael Somes has made a significant difference to many people at a personal level in the legal community. A number of people in the legal community who have reached out to share their views about Michael have all described fond memories. Each reported that he treated people with dignity and that he showed the same poise and courtesy when he was dealing with an unrepresented litigant as he did when he dealt with senior counsel. This was regardless of other pressures on the day; it was simply his nature.
As a solicitor, Michael Somes has been described as someone that everyone looked up to for his integrity and his mentorship. His former associate, Rebecca Curran, who is now a very successful member of the ACT bar, has shared what a great privilege it was to work with Michael. She recalls that he encouraged, supported and taught her so much in the time that she worked with him in the old Supreme Court building, back when half the building was the Magistrates Court. She spoke of how he instilled in her the absolutes in law: that your first duty is to the court, understanding your ethical responsibilities and propriety, the need for understanding and compassion, and the essential quality of always working hard.
Rebecca is not alone in her affection. Michael has been described as intelligent, punctual and respectful, the epitome of all qualities of judicial propriety at all times. Mary-Therese Daniel, now an ACAT presidential member, said that he taught her about the necessity to refer always to the book of words. Fellow magistrate Karen Fryer described him as the most welcoming colleague who could be approached for advice and guidance about absolutely anything.
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