Vale Kevin Parker

Former Legal Practice Board Chair Kevin Parker AC RFD KC has died, aged 86. 

 

Mr Parker was Chair of the Barristers Board from 1979 until it was replaced by the Legal Practice Board and Legal Practice Disciplinary Tribunal in 1993. Mr Parker was Chair of the Tribunal from 1993 to 1994, and Deputy Chair from 1996 to 1998.
 
Admitted as a legal practitioner in 1960, Mr Parker was Chief Crown Prosecutor 1971- 1974 and in 1977 was appointed King’s Counsel. He was Solicitor General from 1979 to 1994, and a judge of the Supreme Court of Western Australia from 1994 to 2003.
 
His service extended internationally as a member of Australian legal delegations to several United Nations commissions, and as permanent judge of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia from 2003 to 2011.
 
Mr Parker’s service was recognised by appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1989, and Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008.
 
“Kevin was one of the great Board Chairs of the day”, Board Executive Director Libby Fulham said.
 
“Importantly, he was Chair during the inquiry into the future organisation of the legal profession in Western Australia, between 1980 and 1983, and then led the implementation of the recommendations.
 
“He made an enormous contribution to the Board at a time when it was much smaller than today, and was a greatly valued and influential leader in Western Australian law.”