Editing John Latham (judge) (section)

===Early career===
Latham was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] at the [[1922 Australian federal election|1922 federal election]], standing as a self-described "Progressive Liberal" in the seat of [[Division of Kooyong|Kooyong]]. He received the endorsement of the newly created [[Liberal Union (Victoria)|Liberal Union]], "a coalition of [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]] defectors and people opposed to socialism and Hughes".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=86}} He additionally received support from the conservative [[Australian Women's National League]], the imperialist Australian Legion, and colleagues in Melbourne's legal profession.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=87}} He did not fully accept the Liberal Union's platform, although he claimed to "strongly support the attitude of the Union", and issued his own platform consisting of nine principles including a slogan that "Hughes Must Go".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=86}} At the election, Latham narrowly defeated the incumbent Nationalist MP [[Robert Best (politician)|Robert Best]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=88}}

The 1922 election resulted in a [[hung parliament]], with Latham siding with the [[Australian Country Party|Country Party]] to force Hughes' resignation as prime minister in favour of [[S. M. Bruce]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=88}} While notionally remaining an independent, he soon announced his support for the new government and attended meetings of government parties.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=89}} His early contributions in parliament concentrated on foreign affairs and the need for greater involvement of Australia and the other [[Dominion]]s in developing imperial foreign policy.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|pp=88-91}}

Latham was re-elected at the [[1925 Australian federal election|1925 election]],{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=91}} standing as an endorsed Nationalist candidate in Kooyong.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/243709093|title=City Electorates|newspaper=The Herald|location=Melbourne|date=30 October 1925}}</ref> He subsequently joined Bruce's government as [[Attorney-General of Australia|attorney-general]].{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=91}} His major concerns in that role were "legislating against domestic communists and aligned interests, and reforming industrial arbitration law".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=92}} Latham also served as a key advisor to Bruce on foreign affairs, accompanying him to the [[1926 Imperial Conference]] in London.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=96}} He was pleased with the [[Balfour Declaration of 1926|Balfour Declaration]] on the constitutional status of Dominions which emerged from the conference, stating that it "embodies the most effective and useful work that any Imperial Conference has yet accomplished".{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=98}}

In 1929, Latham published ''Australia and the British Commonwealth'', a book detailing the evolution of the British Empire into the [[British Commonwealth of Nations]] and its implications for Australia.{{sfn|Kilmister|2018|p=100}}