Australian justice to address ’09 class

Australian Justice Michael Kirby, a longtime human rights advocate and former law school professor, will present this year’s commencement address for the 180th IU graduation ceremony, University officials announced Tuesday.

Kirby is an expert on human rights and was a long-serving judge in Australia until he retired in February. Most recently, he served in the High Court of Australia, the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court.

IU spokesman Larry MacIntyre said Kirby has a long-standing relationship with IU and close ties to IU President Michael McRobbie.

“He has been involved in the University in a number of capacities,” MacIntyre said. “He has given a number of lectures and has an international reputation as a champion of human rights.”

Maurer School of Law Dean Lauren Robel nominated Kirby to give the address. She said Kirby has been strongly involved in the law school and the Kinsey Institute.

“I’ve known Justice Kirby for a long time,” she said. “I’m pleased and honored that he will give the address.”

Despite Kirby’s accomplishments in Australia, some graduating seniors are not excited about the decision.

“I’m disappointed since I doubt anyone is going to know him at all,” senior Ryan Smith said.

He said he wished President Barack Obama was giving the speech and said it was unfair because he will give the commencement speech for the University of Notre Dame.

Senior Claire Breen also said she would have liked IU to pick a more well-known speaker. However, she said the popularity of the speaker is a small portion of commencement.

“It has potential to be big, but it’s not going to ruin graduation,” Breen said.

Known as Australia’s “Great Dissenter,” Kirby served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1983 to 1984, the New South Wales Court from 1964 to 1996 in the Australian High Court until this year. He is the longest-serving judge in Australia.

“Throughout his career, Justice Kirby has demonstrated a thoughtful and analytical approach to the law, as well as great personal courage,” McRobbie said in the release.

“He has also been a great friend to Indiana University. We are honored that he will be the commencement speaker for IU-Bloomington.”

Robel said Kirby has championed for the rights of aboriginal people of Australia and also for those with an alternative sexual orientation. She said she has heard him speak many times.

“I expect an eloquent and thoughtful speech,” she said. “I’m pleased and honored that he will speak.”

IU Student Association President Luke Fields, a senior, said the commencement speaker is an important part of the graduation ceremony and said he’s glad the speaker will emphasize the international perspective McRobbie and the board of trustees have tried to incorporate at IU.

“I was really excited to see the speaker,” Fields said. “I’m just looking for a capstone to my time – one final moment (and) something to hold on to.”