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Michael Kirby: Law, Love & Life
The intimate biography of High Court justice Michael Kirby
For most of his life, Michael Kirby has been a man on a tightrope. A person of strong views working in a world governed by objectivity, he has had to balance the potent, sometimes contradictory impulses of passion and duty, honesty and discretion, advocacy and neutrality.
He had to hide his real self from the world for decades, while being the public voice of countless human-rights and legal issues. And his thirty-five years as a federal judge afforded him tremendous authority and power, but often demanded silence and impartiality on matters closest to his heart.
This intimate biography takes us behind the bench to explore the personal, moral and spiritual convictions of one of our most beloved and brilliant citizens, a man who made the law accessible, humane and interesting, a man who was never blown along by the prevailing political winds. It draws on a wealth of previously unavailable letters and papers, as well as interviews with Kirby, his family, friends and – for the first time – Johan van Vloten, his partner of more than forty years. Michael Kirby: Law, Love & Life looks back on a controversial career of dedication and success, and a private life of great love, secrecy and, finally, openness.
For most of his life, Michael Kirby has been a man on a tightrope. A person of strong views working in a world governed by objectivity, he has had to balance the potent, sometimes contradictory impulses of passion and duty, honesty and discretion, advocacy and neutrality.
He had to hide his real self from the world for decades, while being the public voice of countless human-rights and legal issues. And his thirty-five years as a federal judge afforded him tremendous authority and power, but often demanded silence and impartiality on matters closest to his heart.
This intimate biography takes us behind the bench to explore the personal, moral and spiritual convictions of one of our most beloved and brilliant citizens, a man who made the law accessible, humane and interesting, a man who was never blown along by the prevailing political winds. It draws on a wealth of previously unavailable letters and papers, as well as interviews with Kirby, his family, friends and – for the first time – Johan van Vloten, his partner of more than forty years. Michael Kirby: Law, Love & Life looks back on a controversial career of dedication and success, and a private life of great love, secrecy and, finally, openness.
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First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 27, 2020
I absolutely loved reading it! For those who don’t know Kirby, he is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia (celebrity judge, gay icon, international human right activist, and list goes on...)
He is such an inspiration to so many communities, highly intellectual, and wonderful human being. He is also known as “the great dissenter”, “judicial activist”, and “maverick” which he hated.
This book reminds me how I struggled to incorporate human rights and international laws into my essays but somehow managed to channel my inner Justice Kirby and overcame the assessments. <3
He is such an inspiration to so many communities, highly intellectual, and wonderful human being. He is also known as “the great dissenter”, “judicial activist”, and “maverick” which he hated.
This book reminds me how I struggled to incorporate human rights and international laws into my essays but somehow managed to channel my inner Justice Kirby and overcame the assessments. <3
July 20, 2025
what an extraordinary human being
(John Howard is despicable)
(John Howard is despicable)
September 20, 2019
I really enjoyed reading about Justice Kirby. I especially enjoyed learning more about his time on the High Court of Australia and the political and judicial circumstances that led to his reputation as “The Great Dissenter” (a nickname I now know he dislikes!)
February 1, 2025
One of the most inspiring and beautiful reads of my life. Kirby is not only a gay icon but also just an ideal human. I hope to in my life have an inch of his intelligence, integrity and love.
He's my inspiration, not only as a gay law student* but as a human being.
He's my inspiration, not only as a gay law student* but as a human being.
March 3, 2018
MICHAEL KIRBY IS AN ICON 🙌🙌🙌
This biography was an interesting and surprisingly easy read, even if it did take me a little while because distractions. Kirby has led one helluva life that Dellora has portrayed really honestly and well in his book.
This biography was an interesting and surprisingly easy read, even if it did take me a little while because distractions. Kirby has led one helluva life that Dellora has portrayed really honestly and well in his book.
May 29, 2018
Kirby's life makes for engaging reading until he reaches his mid-20's and the politico-legal side of things becomes rather overwhelming. Maybe it's just me.
May 2, 2021
4.5 stars
February 15, 2024
As with his other book there was too much focus on his sexuality instead of his interesting cases . I didn’t finish this book either.
July 6, 2012
The Honourable Justice Michael Kirby, AC, CMG, is one of a small number of High Court judges with a public profile outside the rarified atmosphere of the judicial system. While this high profile is merited by his remarkable achievements (which you can read about at Wikipedia), it is probably also true to say that is also partly due to undeserved notoriety.
Notoriety is not a word one would usually apply to a High Court judge, and certainly not to a judge who dedicated his career to protecting human rights. Justice Kirby is a good man, and an honorable man. The unjustified notoriety derives from the appalling behaviour of others who made scurrilous allegations against him under parliamentary privilege, and although these have been retracted, nevertheless it is pleasing to see that Daryl Dellora has written this biography to set the record straight in a straightforward, highly accessible style that will maximise its chances of being widely read.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog at http://anzlitlovers.com
Notoriety is not a word one would usually apply to a High Court judge, and certainly not to a judge who dedicated his career to protecting human rights. Justice Kirby is a good man, and an honorable man. The unjustified notoriety derives from the appalling behaviour of others who made scurrilous allegations against him under parliamentary privilege, and although these have been retracted, nevertheless it is pleasing to see that Daryl Dellora has written this biography to set the record straight in a straightforward, highly accessible style that will maximise its chances of being widely read.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog at http://anzlitlovers.com
December 18, 2013
Dellora tries to be impartial but it all falls apart in the final chapters where she needlessly attacks both the Howard government and the other members of the High Court. A poor end to an otherwise interesting biography.
September 26, 2013
An intimate, honest look into the life of the most intriguing High Court Justices in the history of Australia.
A must read for curious law students who wants to know more how Michael Kirby became Kirby J.
A must read for curious law students who wants to know more how Michael Kirby became Kirby J.
March 22, 2016
Very interesting subject matter, as Michael Kirby is surely one of the finest Australians since white settlement, but it did became a little sentimental and didactic in parts.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews