Obituary - His Honour Joseph Raymond O’Shea QC

Joseph O’Shea was educated at St Patrick’s College, East Melbourne, where he was a good student and a successful athlete; and at the University of Melbourne. He served five years long Articles with John Mahony at Mahony, O’Brien & Duggan in Melbourne. He was admitted to practice in June 1949 and practised as a Solicitor with Joseph E Daily in Myrtleford.

He signed the Bar Roll in August 1949 and read with W A (“Bill”) Fazio. Fazio’s Chambers were in Equity Chambers and, upon completion of his Reading, Joseph O’Shea also took Chambers in Equity – where he remained until his appointment to the County Court. The legendary annual Equity Chambers Christmas Party, not uncommonly, extended to singing (in particular, of Irish ballads) and beer in Joe O’Shea’s room.

His practice began in the Courts of Petty Sessions (now the Magistrates’ Court), amongst other things, engaging with the arcane intricacies of the Landlord & Tenant Act; moved to the Licensing Court; and expanded to a broad general practice including Common Law, Crime, Matrimonial Causes, Workers Compensation, Wills and Testators Family Maintenance. He appeared in all jurisdictions, including before the High Court; and a number of times before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. He had five Readers. He took Silk in 1968.

He was appointed to the County Court on 1 April 1969. His Honour was the Guest of Honour at a Bar Dinner shortly after his elevation to the Bench; and his colleagues hung his portrait on the third floor of Equity Chambers.

Judge O’Shea served with distinction as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria for a remarkable 30 years to statutory retirement in April 1999 – amongst the longest-serving Judges in Australia in modern times – including as Acting Chief Judge.

His Honour sat predominantly in the Criminal Jurisdiction. He was also concurrently an Arbitrator under the Sale of Land Act; Chairman of the Liquor Control Commission of Victoria; and Deputy President of the Industrial Appeals Court of Victoria (which heard appeals against decisions made by Wages Boards). His favourite Circuit was the Bairnsdale Circuit. His Honour was generous in sharing his experience and offering advice and counsel – in the Bar tradition, his door was always open to his fellow Judges. After statutory retirement, His Honour became a Reserve Judge.

Click here to view the Victorian Bar's tribute notice from The Age.