Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy is an analysis of Justice Kirby’s achievements and contribution to the Australian legal system. For more than three and a half decades, Australia has watched as Michael Kirby’s national and international standing has unfolded. Many have admired his commitment to social and legal reform, as well as his visionary intellectual leadership. Appealing to the Future is a collection of essays written by eminent legal practitioners and scholars, each reviewing an aspect or theme of Justice Kirby’s life in the law, including his judgments, his contribution to law reform, and his extra-judicial activities and writing. The book covers a wide variety of legal topics, but underpinning them all is an exploration of Justice Kirby’s values – how they have shaped his judgments and interests and how they have evolved over the years to make him one of Australia’s most renowned and controversial judges. Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and His Legacy is also available in Hardcover. About Michael Kirby The Laws of Australia's Editor in Chief The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG oversees a team of more than 400 specialist authors and expert Title Editors. When he retired from the High Court of Australia on 2 February 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia's longest serving judge. He was first appointed in 1975 as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation & Arbitration Commission. Soon after, he was seconded as inaugural Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84). Later, he was appointed a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, concurrently, the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands. His appointment to the High Court came in 1996 and he served thirteen years. In later years, he was Acting Chief Justice of Australia twice. In addition to his judicial duties, Michael Kirby served on three university governing bodies being elected Chancellor of Macquarie University in Sydney (1984-93). Michael Kirby plays an invaluable role as Editor-in-Chief of The Laws of Australia, advising on the prioritisation of publishing and the direction of legal developments generally.