Bernard Sugerman

Sir Bernard Sugerman (5 July 1904 3 November 1976) was an Australian barrister, legal scholar, and judge.

Early life and education Bernard Sugerman was born on 5 July 1904 at Rockdale, New South Wales to Solomon Ruben Sugerman and Florrie (née Green). Florrie was born in Sydney of Russian-Polish parents and died in 1905. Solomon Sugerman, a commercial traveller and stained glass manufacturer born in Scotland of Russian-Polish parents, remarried in 1907.

Sugerman attended Kogarah Public School, and, having won an exhibition, the University of Sydney, where he enrolled in law.

Legal career

Barrister Sugerman was admitted to the New South Wales Bar on 12 March 1926 and went into chambers with his friends David Roper and Alan Taylor. His practice grew slowly and he was appointed KC in October 1943, after which he began to be briefed in important constitutional cases before the High Court of Australia.

Legal scholar and editor Between 1926 and 1943, He lectured at his alma mater, the Sydney Law School, on contracts, mercantile law and torts.

He was editor-in-chief of the Australian Digest (1934–39) and editor of the Commonwealth Law Reports (1942–46).

Sugerman remained head of the Land and Valuation Court until 1961 but also was called upon to sit in equity and, over time, the Full Court and the Court of Appeal.

He was passed over for appointment as first president of the new Court of Appeal in 1966, but he became its second president on 22 January 1970 but ill health led him to retire on 29 September 1972.

Awards and honours In 1970, he was made a knight bachelor in the Queen's Birthday honours list.

In 1976, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred upon him by the University of Sydney.