He won a Commonwealth Scholarship to The University of Queensland, and graduated with degrees in Arts in 1969 and Laws (with Honours) in 1971, He was called to the Bar at the end of 1971 and was appointed as Her Majesty’s Counsel (QC) in 1981. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1985, when aged 36 years, becoming the 17th Chief Justice of Queensland on 17 February 1998, and served in that role for more than 16 years until 8 July 2014. Awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) on 12 June 2000 for service to the law, to judicial reform, and to the community through the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane providing leadership and commitment in fostering greater awareness of the provision of welfare services, education and health care Awarded a Centenary Medal in 2003. Holds honorary doctorates from The University of Queensland (2000) and the University of Southern Queensland (2008), and Griffith University (2014).