Dixon court High Court of Australia

the bench in 1952, shortly before chief justice latham s retirement. back, left right, fullagar, webb, williams & kitto. front, left right, dixon, latham & mctiernan.

under chief justice sir owen dixon, elevated role in 1952 after 23 years justice, court enjoyed successful period, british judge, master of rolls lord denning, describing time court s golden age . dixon, regarded australia s greatest judge, had commanding personal , legal influence on court in time, measurable in rise in joint judgments (many of led dixon) , relations between justices.

while there fewer cases tested limits of federal power, due menzies government firmly entrenched in conservative phase throughout dixon s tenure, court did decide several important constitutional cases. dixon led court in firmly establishing separation of powers judiciary in boilermakers case (1956), , court upheld continuing existence of federal government s income tax scheme in second uniform tax case (1957).

during dixon s time chief justice, court came adopt several of views dixon had advanced in minority opinions in years prior. in several cases, court upheld dixon s interpretation of section 92 (one of troublesome sections of constitution), regarded guaranteeing constitutional right engage in interstate trade, subject reasonable regulation. followed dixon s interpretation of section 90 (which prohibits states exacting duties of excise), although both these interpretations abandoned many years later.