Louis Heydon

Louis Francis Heydon (23 April 1848 – 17 May 1918) was a politician and solicitor in New South Wales, Australia and was Minister of Justice for six weeks 1885 to 1886.

Early life Heydon was born in Sydney, New South Wales, the son of Jabez King Heydon and Sophia Hayes. He was educated at St Mary's Cathedral school and then Sydney Grammar School. He was admitted as a solicitor in 1873 and practiced in Bathurst for eight years, before returning to Sydney where he entered into a partnership with Thomas Slattery. He married Mary Josephine Gell Lithgow, New South Wales on 15 August 1881.

Political career

He stood as a candidate for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly at the 1880 election for Argyle, finishing 3rd with a margin of 212 votes (5.7%). He contested the by-election for Argyle in December 1881, but was again unsuccessful. In 1884 Heydon was part of a land reform conference, which included Paddy Crick, Edward O'Sullivan and Adolphus Taylor to "establish a political organisation of the agricultural, mining, and working classes of New South Wales, in order to initiate a more liberal and progressive policy for the colony", a protectionist party that became known as the Land and Industrial Alliance. Heydon later became President and recognised as the leader of the party. In 1893 his elder brother Charles was also appointed to the Legislative Council.

In 1901 the Incorporated Law Institute of New South Wales commenced disciplinary proceedings against him for misconduct. In 1896 the trustees for an estate commenced proceedings with Heydon acting for them. Five of the defendants approached Heydon to represent them. As he couldn't represent both plaintiff and defendants, Heydon referred them to five different solicitors, with an agreement that he would receive a percentage of the costs they were paid. Apparently the payment of an introduction fee was a common practice for solicitors at the time. Part of the result of the litigation was the replacement of the trustees for the estate, the new trustees for the estate found out about the arrangements and sought to recover the payments made to Heydon. The trial judge, A. H. Simpson, stated that the practice was indefensible and ordered that Heydon pay the money to the plaintiff, plus costs. Out of costs of £5,068 Heydon had received £977 commission, which he repaid to the plaintiff. In the disciplinary proceedings the Full Court also condemned the practice, which Chief Justice Sir Frederick Darley stating it "was of a vicious tendency and wholly indefensible", fining Heydon £50 plus paying costs of the proceedings. He was not however suspended from practice.

Death Heydon died in Hunters Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, on . He was survived by a son, Joseph Kentigern Heydon, and a daughter, Mrs Mary Elizabeth Collingridge.