George Frederick Amsberg (15 June 1905 – 25 November 1980) was an Australian barrister and judge of the District Court of New South Wales. He was a prominent member of the Sydney Jewish community. In his legal practice Amsberg defended some of Sydney's most high-profile criminals. In 1953, after becoming a judge, Amsberg was appointed as a Commissioner to preside over the highly political Royal Commission of Inquiry into the conduct of Joshua Arthur, a New South Wales government minister.
George Frederick Amsberg | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Judge George Amsberg Q.C. | |
| Judge of the District Court of New South Wales | |
| In office 15 October 1952 – June 1968 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 June 1905 Woollahra, New South Wales |
| Died | 25 November 1980 (aged 75) Southport, Queensland |
| Spouse | Agnes (née Plate) |
| Education | Fort Street Boys' High School |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
Biography
editEarly life
editGeorge Amsberg was born on 15 June 1905 at Woollahra, New South Wales, the son of Frederick Amsberg and Alice (née Abrahams).[1] His father was a pawnbroker with a shop in Enmore-road, Enmore.[2]
Amsberg received his secondary education at Fort Street Boys' High School. He attended Sydney University and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1926, with first-class honours and sharing the University Medal with Garfield Barwick (later Chief Justice of Australia).[3][4]
Legal practice
editAmsberg was admitted as a Barrister in February 1928.[5] During the 1930s and early 1940s Amsberg "acquired a leading practice as junior counsel". He was known as "a formidable cross-examiner", with a quick mind and "a capacious memory".[4]
On 2 February 1938 Amsberg was cross-examining a witness named Victor Whitley in the Workers' Compensation Court, when the witness said to Amsberg, "I was one of the first Diggers who entered Jerusalem. Where were you?". The barrister angrily retorted to Whitley "that he would see him outside afterwards" and added, "I won't stand insults from anyone".[6][7]
In 1940 Amsberg was living in Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill.[8] George Amsberg and Agnes Plate were married on 3 July 1940 in a Jewish ceremony at the Temple Emanuel, Maccabean Hall in Darlinghurst-road, Darlinghurst.[8]
War service
editAmsberg served in the Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RANVR) during World War II (from August 1942 to February 1945).[9] He served on vessels engaged in minesweeping operations and the transportation of troops in New Guinea.[10] Amsberg was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in December 1942.[9][3]
Legal practice resumed
editAfter the war ended many servicemen returning to practice at the Bar found great difficulty in obtaining chambers or suitable rooms, despite efforts by the Bar Council to remedy the situation and give priority to returned men.[11] After his discharge in February 1945 Amsberg resumed his practice, finding a room in the University Chambers at 167 Phillip Street.[9][12] Described as "one of the leaders of the junior Bar before he joined the Navy", Amsberg's accommodation was initially sub-standard, having to interview clients and solicitors in a very small room on the premises.[13]
In the late 1940s and early 1950s Amsberg took on well-known Sydney criminals as clients, including John 'Chow' Hayes and William 'Joey' Hollebone, defending them in a number of high-profile cases. Chow Hayes later recalled that George Amsberg was amongst a number of Sydney lawyers who often attended Thommo's two-up school in Surry Hills, where both Hayes and Hollebone worked. Hayes claimed that Amsberg "knew everything there was to know about gambling and sly grog around Sydney"; he and Hollebone would sometimes drink with Amsberg "at old Kate Leigh's place and other dives". Amsberg sometimes sought advice from Hayes; "if an ordinary crim was pinched for something like house-breaking and sought Amsberg's representation, old George would send for me or Hollebone to check him out first – that is, to ensure he was a good fellow who knew how to mind his own business". Hayes claimed it was a common practice at that time for lawyers in Sydney to charge a larger amount than the receipt they issued to their client.[14]
Amsberg was appointed a Queens Counsel in April 1951.[3]
District Court judge
editOn 15 October 1952 Amsberg was appointed as a judge of the District Court of New South Wales.[15]
In March 1953 Amsberg was appointed as sole commissioner to conduct the Royal Commission to inquire into and report upon whether Joshua Arthur, a New South Wales Government minister, "acted corruptly or improperly in any association or dealing" with Reginald Doyle (and other related matters).[16] It was revealed that Amsberg had been chosen after the Chief Justice, Kenneth Street, had refused to make a Supreme Court judge available to preside at the Commission because of "the state of the law list" and the absence overseas of one judge. The Chairman of the District Court Bench was then approached, and Judge Amsberg was suggested for the role.[17]
From about June 1953 Amsberg regularly appeared as a 'Brains Trust' panellist, public events organised by the YMHA (Young Men's Hebrew Association) and through the Temple Emanuel. Brains Trust events involved an expert panel with diverse backgrounds assembled to answer questions previously submitted by members of the public.[18][19]
Retirement
editAmsberg retired as a District Court judge in June 1968 and went to live at Broadbeach on the Queensland Gold Coast.[20][4]
In June 1969 Amsberg was appointed as an Electoral Districts Commissioner to assist in carrying out a redistribution of electorates prior to the New South Wales State election in 1971.[21][22]
George Amsberg died on 25 November 1980 at Southport, Queensland, aged 75 years. His obituary in the Australian Law Journal concluded with the following words: "He will always be remembered as one of the most colourful legal personalities of his time in Sydney, and for his kindness, friendliness and generosity on all occasions".[4]
References
edit- ^ Family records (per Ancestry.com).
- ^ A Pawnbroker Robbed, Australian Star (Sydney), 23 July 1908, page 7.
- ^ a b c Mr. Amsberg, Q.C., Appointed to District Court, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 October 1952, page 2.
- ^ a b c d 'Obituary: Judge Amsberg Q.C.', Australian Law Journal, vol. 55, April 1981, page 242.
- ^ More Legal Men: Admitted To-day, The Sun (Sydney), 23 February 1928, page 12.
- ^ "I Will See You Outside the Court", Border Morning Mail (Albury), 3 February 1938, page 4.
- ^ "See You Outside!", Cessnock Eagle and South Maitland Recorder, 4 February 1938, page 8.
- ^ a b Temple Emanuel, Hebrew Standard of Australasia (Sydney), 27 June 1940, page 3.
- ^ a b c Amsberg George Frederick, series A6769, National Archives of Australia website.
- ^ Personal Items, The Bulletin, 22 October 1952 (Vol. 73 No. 3793), page 10.
- ^ Historical Times of the Wentworth Chambers, Wentworth Chambers: The 50th Anniversary (website); quoting from A History of the NSW Bar (1969), J. M. Bennett (ed.), The New South Wales Bar Association, published by The Law Book Company Ltd.
- ^ Barristers Resume Practice at Bar, The Sun (Sydney), 23 March 1945, page 2.
- ^ Contact by Jim Macdougall, The Sun (Sydney), 13 March 1946, page 1.
- ^ Hickie, David (1990). Chow Hayes, Gunman. North Ryde: Angus & Robertson. p. 198. ISBN 0207160120.
- ^ Amsberg QC District Court Judge, The Sun (Sydney), 15 October 1952, page 11.
- ^ Premier's Department, Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney), 18 March 1953 (Issue No. 50 Supplement), page 819.
- ^ Judge Amsberg to Hear case, Ilawarra Daily Mercury (Woolongong), 12 March 1953, page 1.
- ^ Brains Trust, Sydney Jewish News (Sydney), 26 June 1953, page 9.
- ^ The Temple Emanuel: Grand Brains Trust, Sydney Jewish News (Sydney), 7 August 1953, page 9.
- ^ Sam Ross – New Judge, Australian Jewish Times (Sydney), 23 May 1968, page 1.
- ^ Appointment of Electoral Districts Commissioners, Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney), 20 June 1969 (Issue No. 71), page 2280.
- ^ Electoral Study Team for NSW, Canberra Times, 20 June 1969, page 7.