Editing John Latham (judge)

{{Short description|Australian politician and judge (1877–1964)}}
{{other people||John Latham (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Sir John Latham
| honorific-suffix    = [[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]] [[Privy Councilor|PC]] [[Queen's Counsel|QC]]
| nationality         = Australian
| image               = John Latham 1931.jpg
| caption             = Latham in 1931
| order               = 
| office              = [[Chief Justice of Australia]]
| term_start          = 11 October 1935
| term_end            = 7 April 1952
| appointer           = [[Sir Isaac Isaacs]]
| nominator           = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| predecessor         = [[Sir Frank Gavan Duffy]]
| successor           = [[Sir Owen Dixon]]
| office2             = [[Attorney-General of Australia]]
| primeminister2      = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| term_start2         = 6 January 1932
| term_end2           = 12 October 1934
| predecessor2        = [[Frank Brennan (politician)|Frank Brennan]]
| successor2          = [[Robert Menzies]]
| office3             = [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for External Affairs]]
| primeminister3      = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| term_start3         = 6 January 1932
| term_end3           = 12 October 1934
| predecessor3        = [[James Scullin]]
| successor3          = Sir [[George Pearce]]
| office4             = [[Department of Industry (1928–40)|Minister for Industry]]
| primeminister4      = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| term_start4         = 6 January 1932
| term_end4           = 12 October 1934
| predecessor4        = [[James Scullin]]
| successor4          = [[Robert Menzies]]
| office5             = [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]]
| deputy5             = [[Henry Gullett]]
| term_start5         = 22 October 1929
| term_end5           = 7 May 1931
| primeminister5      = [[James Scullin]]
| predecessor5        = [[James Scullin]]
| successor5          = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| office6             = Leader of the [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]]
| deputy6             = [[Henry Gullett]]
| term_start6         = 22 October 1929
| term_end6           = 7 May 1931
| predecessor6        = [[Stanley Bruce]]
| successor6          = ''Party dissolved''
| office7             = [[United Australia Party|Deputy Leader of the United Australia Party]]
| leader7             = [[Joseph Lyons]]
| term_start7         = 7 May 1931
| term_end7           = 15 September 1934
| predecessor7        = ''party established''
| successor7          = [[Robert Menzies]]
| office8             = [[Department of Industry (1928–40)|Minister for Industry]]
| primeminister8      = [[Stanley Bruce]]
| term_start8         = 10 December 1928
| term_end8           = 22 October 1929
| predecessor8        = ''New title''
| successor8          = [[James Scullin]]
| office9             = [[Attorney-General of Australia]]
| primeminister9      = [[Stanley Bruce]]
| term_start9         = 18 December 1925
| term_end9           = 22 October 1929
| predecessor9        = [[Littleton Groom]]
| successor9          = [[Frank Brennan (politician)|Frank Brennan]]
| parliament10        = Australian
| constituency_MP10   = [[Division of Kooyong|Kooyong]]
| term_start10        = 16 December 1922
| term_end10          = 7 August 1934
| predecessor10       = [[Robert Best (Australian politician)|Robert Best]]
| successor10         = [[Robert Menzies]]
| birth_name          = John Greig Latham
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1877|8|26|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Ascot Vale, Victoria]], Australia
| death_date          = {{death date and age|1964|7|25|1877|8|26|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Richmond, Victoria]], Australia
| party               = [[Liberal Party (1922)|Liberal Union]] (1921–1925) <br />[[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist]] (1925–1931) <br /> [[United Australia Party|United Australia]] (1931–1934)
| education           = [[Scotch College, Melbourne|Scotch College]]
| alma_mater          = [[University of Melbourne]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Ella Latham|Ella Tobin]]|1907}}
}}

'''Sir John Greig Latham''' {{small|[[Order of St Michael and St George|GCMG]] [[Privy Councilor|PC]] [[Queen's Counsel|QC]]}} (26 August 1877 – 25 July 1964) was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the fifth [[Chief Justice of Australia]], in office from 1935 to 1952. He had earlier served as [[Attorney-General of Australia]] under [[Stanley Bruce]] and [[Joseph Lyons]], and was [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]] from 1929 to 1931 as the final leader of the [[Nationalist Party of Australia|Nationalist Party]].

Latham was born in [[Melbourne]]. He studied arts and law at the [[University of Melbourne]], and was [[Call to the bar|called to the bar]] in 1904. He soon became one of [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]'s best known barristers. In 1917, Latham joined the [[Royal Australian Navy]] as the head of its intelligence division. He served on the Australian delegation to the [[1919 Paris Peace Conference]], where he came into conflict with Prime Minister [[Billy Hughes]]. At the [[1922 Australian federal election|1922 federal election]], Latham was elected to parliament as an independent on an anti-Hughes platform. He got on better with Hughes' successor Stanley Bruce, and formally joined the Nationalist Party in 1925, subsequently winning promotion to cabinet as Attorney-General. He was also [[Minister for Industry (Australia)|Minister for Industry]] from 1928, and was one of the architects of the unpopular industrial relations policy that contributed to the government's defeat at the [[1929 Australian federal election|1929 election]]. Bruce lost his seat, and Latham was reluctantly persuaded to become Leader of the Opposition.

In 1931, Latham led the Nationalists into the new [[United Australia Party]], joining with Joseph Lyons and other disaffected [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] MPs. Despite the Nationalists forming a larger proportion of the new party, he relinquished the leadership to Lyons, a better campaigner, thus becoming the first opposition leader to fail to contest a general election. In the [[Lyons government]], Latham was the ''de facto'' [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|deputy prime minister]], serving both as Attorney-General and [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for External Affairs]]. He retired from politics in 1934, and the following year was appointed to the [[High Court of Australia|High Court]] as Chief Justice. From 1940 to 1941, Latham took a leave of absence from the court to become the inaugural [[Australian Ambassador to Japan]]. He left office in 1952 after almost 17 years as Chief Justice; only [[Garfield Barwick]] has served for longer.

==Early life==
Latham was born on 26 August 1877 in [[Ascot Vale, Victoria]], in the western suburbs of [[Melbourne]]. He was the first of five children born to Janet (née Scott) and Thomas Edwin Latham.{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}} His mother was born in the [[Orkney Islands]] of Scotland,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-323428403/findingaid|title=Guide to the Papers of Sir John Latham|publisher=National Library of Australia|access-date=11 October 2023}}</ref> while his father was Australian-born.{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}} His paternal grandfather, Thomas Latham, was an attorney's clerk who was [[Penal transportation|transported]] to Australia as a [[Convicts in Australia|convict]] in 1848 for obtaining money under false pretences, and later worked as an accountant.<ref>{{cite thesis|url=https://minerva-access.unimelb.edu.au/bitstreams/73b1bedc-48d4-5052-9b5d-d4c5e55ef8dc/download|title=Great Britain's Exiles sent to Port Phillip, Australia, 1844-1849: Lord Stanley's Experiment|first=Colleen|last=Wood|type=Ph.D. thesis|publisher=University of Melbourne|year=2014|pages=233–234}}</ref>

Latham's father was a tinsmith by profession, but "preferred benevolent work over a comfortable salary" and became a long-serving secretary of the [[RSPCA Australia|Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals]].{{sfn|Widdows|2014|p=9}} The family moved to [[Ivanhoe, Victoria|Ivanhoe]] in Melbourne's eastern suburbs shortly after Latham's birth.{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}} His father was also a [[justice of the peace]] and served on the [[City of Heidelberg|Heidelberg Town Council]] in later life.{{sfn|Widdows|2014|p=9}} Latham began his education at the George Street State School in [[Fitzroy, Victoria|Fitzroy]]. He subsequently won a scholarship to attend [[Scotch College, Melbourne]], and went on to graduate Bachelor of Arts from the [[University of Melbourne]] in 1896.{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}}

After completing his undergraduate degree, Latham spent two years as a schoolteacher at a private academy in [[Hamilton, Victoria]]. He returned to the University of Melbourne to study law in 1899, where he also tutored in philosophy and logic at [[Ormond College]]. He was admitted to the [[Victorian Bar]] in 1904 but struggled for briefs in his first years as a barrister and primarily worked in the [[Magistrates' Court of Victoria|Court of Petty Sessions]] and [[County Court of Victoria|County Court]].{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}}

In 1907, Latham played a key role in establishing the Education Act Defence League, a rationalist organisation aimed at upholding the secular provisions of the ''[[Education Act 1872 (Victoria)|Education Act 1872]]''. In 1909 he became the inaugural president of the [[Rationalist Society of Australia|Victorian Rationalist Association]] (VRA). He campaigned against the University of Melbourne's plans to open a divinity school.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Rationalism and its opposition to a degree in divinity at the University of Melbourne, 1905-1910|first=Ralph|last=Biddington|year=2004|journal=History of Education Review|doi=10.1108/08198691200400003|pages=28–43|volume=33|number=1}}</reF>

==World War I==
In 1915, at the request of [[Thomas Bavin]], Latham became secretary of the Victorian branch of the Universal Service League, an organisation supporting [[World War I conscription in Australia|conscription for overseas service]]. In 1917 he joined the [[Royal Australian Navy|Australian Navy]] as head of Naval Intelligence, with the honorary rank of [[lieutenant commander]]. His appointment was prompted by complaints of sabotage in naval dockyards, while he later investigated allegations of Bolshevik activity in the Navy.{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}}

Latham accompanied navy minister [[Joseph Cook]] to London in 1918, assisting him at [[Imperial War Cabinet]] meetings and later in his role on the Commission on Czechoslovak Affairs at the [[Versailles Peace Conference]]. He also served as an adviser to Prime Minister [[Billy Hughes]], but was "critical of his excesses and affronted by his manner" and "conceived an antipathy to Hughes that remained throughout his political career".{{sfn|Macintyre|1986}} For his services, Latham was appointed [[Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (CMG) in the [[1920 New Year Honours]].<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=31712 |date=30 December 1919 |page=4 |supp=y}}</ref>

==Legal career==
[[File:Johnlatham.jpg|left|thumb|upright|John Latham in the 1920s]]
Latham had a distinguished career as a [[barrister]]. He was admitted to the [[Victorian Bar]] in 1904, and was made a [[King's Counsel]] in 1922. In 1920, Latham appeared before the High Court representing the [[Victoria (Australia)|State of Victoria]] in the famous [[Amalgamated Society of Engineers v Adelaide Steamship Co Ltd|Engineers' case]], alongside such people as [[H.V. Evatt|Dr H.V. Evatt]] and [[Robert Menzies]].{{cn|date=May 2024}}

==Politics==
===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}}

===Leader of the Opposition===
After Bruce lost his Parliamentary seat in 1929, Latham was elected as leader of the Nationalist Party, and hence Leader of the Opposition. He opposed the ratification of the [[Statute of Westminster (1931)]] and worked very hard to prevent it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcu.edu.au/aff/history/conferences/newcastle/lewis.htm |title=John Latham and the Statute of Westminster |last=Lewis |first=David |date=3 July 1998 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411212720/http://www.jcu.edu.au/aff/history/conferences/newcastle/lewis.htm |archive-date=11 April 2011 }}</ref>

Two years later, [[Joseph Lyons]] led defectors from the [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] across the floor and merged them with the Nationalists to form the [[United Australia Party]]. Although the new party was dominated by former Nationalists, Latham agreed to become Deputy Leader of the Opposition under Lyons.  It was believed having a former Labor man at the helm would present an image of national unity in the face of the economic crisis.  Additionally, the affable Lyons was seen as much more electorally appealing than the aloof Latham, especially given that the UAP's primary goal was to win over natural Labor constituencies to what was still, at bottom, an upper- and middle-class conservative party.  Future ALP leader [[Arthur Calwell]] wrote in his autobiography, ''Be Just and Fear Not,'' that by standing aside in favour of Lyons, Latham knew he was giving up a chance to become prime minister.

===Lyons government===
[[File:Joseph Lyons and John Latham.jpg|thumb|upright|Latham and Prime Minister Joseph Lyons, c. 1932]]
The UAP won a huge victory in the 1931 election, and Latham was appointed Attorney-General once again. He also served as [[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for External Affairs]] and (unofficially) the [[Deputy Prime Minister of Australia|Deputy Prime Minister]]. Latham held these positions until 1934, when he retired from the [[Parliament of Australia|Commonwealth Parliament]]. He was succeeded as member for Kooyong, Attorney-General and Minister of Industry by Menzies, who would go on to become Australia's longest-serving Prime Minister.
Latham became the first former Opposition Leader who was neither a former or future prime minister to become a minister and was the only person to hold this distinction until Bill Hayden in 1983.

As external affairs minister, Latham "judged the measured accommodation of Japan to be a priority in Australia’s approach to regional affairs". During the [[Manchurian Crisis]] and subsequent [[Japanese invasion of Manchuria]], he and Lyons avoided making public statements on the matter and the government adopted a policy of non-alignment in the conflict. In meetings with Japanese foreign minister [[Kōki Hirota]] he unsuccessfully attempted to convince Japan to remain within the [[League of Nations]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-manchurian-crisis-and-the-genesis-of-australian-foreign-policy/|title=The Manchurian crisis and the genesis of Australian foreign policy|first=Honae|last=Cuffe|date=21 January 2022|access-date=8 May 2024}}</ref>

In mid-1934, Latham led the [[Australian Eastern Mission]] to East Asia and South-East Asia, Australia's first diplomatic mission to Asia and outside of the British Empire. The mission, which visited seven territories but concentrated on China, Japan and the [[Dutch East Indies]] (present-day Indonesia), has been identified as a milestone in the early development of Australian foreign policy.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2008-08/apo-nid2694.pdf|title=Within China's Orbit?: China Through the Eyes of the Australian Parliament|first=Timothy|last=Kendall|year=2008|publisher=Department of Parliamentary Services, Parliament of Australia|isbn=978-0975201589|page=37}}</ref> Latham publicly identified the mission as one of "friendship and goodwill", but also compiled a series of secret reports to cabinet on economic and strategic matters. He "actively sought information about trading opportunities across Asia, entering into frequent and detailed discussions with prime ministers, foreign ministers, premiers and governors about Australia‘s trading and commercial interests, custom duties and tariffs".{{sfn|Kendall|2008|p=40}} On his return, Latham successfully advocated in cabinet for the appointment of trade commissioners in Asia, where previously Australia had been represented by British officials.{{sfn|Kendall|2008|p=42}}

==Chief Justice of Australia==
[[File:CJSJohnLatham.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Latham as Chief Justice in 1945]]
Latham was appointed Chief Justice of the [[High Court of Australia]] on 11 October 1935. From 1940 to 1941, he took leave from the Court and travelled to Tokyo to serve as Australia's first [[Australian Ambassador to Japan|Minister to Japan]]. He retired from the High Court in April 1952, after a then-record 16 years in office.

As Chief Justice, Latham corresponded with political figures to an extent later writers have viewed as inappropriate.  Latham offered advice on political matters  – frequently unsolicited – to several prime ministers and other senior government figures. During World War II, he made a number of suggestions about defence and foreign policy,{{sfn|Wheeler|2011}} and provided [[John Curtin]] with a list of constitutional amendments he believed should be made to increase the federal government's power.{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|p=664}} Towards the end of his tenure, Latham's correspondence increasingly revealed his personal views on major political issues that had previously come before the court; namely, opposition to the [[Chifley government]]'s health policies and support of the [[Menzies Government (1949–66)|Menzies Government]]'s attempt to ban the [[Communist Party of Australia|Communist Party]]. He advised Earle Page on how the government could amend the constitution to legally ban the Communist Party,{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|pp=669–671}} and corresponded with his friend [[Richard Casey, Baron Casey|Richard Casey]] on ways to improve the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]]'s platform.{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|pp=667–668}}

According to Fiona Wheeler, there was no direct evidence that Latham's political views interfered with his judicial reasoning, but "the mere appearance of partiality is enough for concern" and could have been difficult to refute if uncovered. She particularly singles out his correspondence with Casey as "an extraordinary display of political partisanship by a serving judge."{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|p=666}} Although Latham emphasised the need for secrecy to the recipients of his letters, he retained copies of most of them in his personal papers, apparently unconcerned that they could be discovered and analysed after his death. He rationalised his actions as those of a private individual, separate from his official position, and maintained a "Janus-like divide between his public and private persona". In other fora he took pains to demonstrate his independence, rejecting speaking engagements if he believed they could be construed as political statements.{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|p=653}} Nonetheless, "many instances of Latham's advising [...] would today be regarded as clear affronts to basic standards of [[judicial independence]] and propriety".{{sfn|Wheeler|2011|p=672}}

Latham was one of only eight justices of the High Court to have served in the Parliament of Australia prior to his appointment to the Court; the others were [[Edmund Barton]], [[Richard O'Connor (politician)|Richard O'Connor]], [[Isaac Isaacs]], [[H. B. Higgins]], [[Edward McTiernan]], [[Garfield Barwick]], and [[Lionel Murphy]].

==Personal life==
[[File:Ella and John Latham 1927.jpg|thumb|upright|Latham and his wife Ella in 1927]]
He was a prominent rationalist and atheist,{{sfn|Morgan|2005|p=144}} after abandoning his parents' Methodism at university. It was at this time that he ended his engagement to Elizabeth (Bessie) Moore, the daughter of Methodist Minister Henry Moore. Bessie later married Edwin P. Carter on the 18th May 1911 at the Northcote Methodist Church, High Street, Northcote.

In 1907, Latham married schoolteacher [[Ella Latham|Ella Tobin]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.womenaustralia.info/leaders/biogs/WLE0141b.htm|title=Latham, Eleanor Mary|website=The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia|language=en-gb|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> They had three children, two of whom predeceased him. His wife, Ella, also predeceased him. Latham died in 1964 in the Melbourne suburb of [[Richmond, Victoria|Richmond]].

He was also a prominent campaigner for Australian literature, being part of the editorial board of ''The Trident'', a small liberal journal, which was edited by [[Walter Murdoch]]. The board also included poet [[Bernard O'Dowd]].

Latham was president of the [[Free library movement]] of Victoria from 1937 and served as president of the [[Australian Library and Information Association|Library Association of Australia]] from 1950 to 1953. He was the first non-librarian to hold the position.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.alia.org.au/sir-john-latham|title=Sir John Latham|publisher=Australian Library and Information Association|access-date=24 July 2021}}</ref>

==Legacy==
The [[Canberra]] suburb of [[Latham, Australian Capital Territory|Latham]] was named after him in 1971. There is also a lecture theatre named after him at [[The University of Melbourne]].

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|24em}}

==References==
* {{cite book |last=Cowen |first=Zelman |author-link=Zelman Cowen |title=Sir John Latham and Other Papers |year=1965 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0195500563 }}
* {{cite thesis| last=Kilmister |first=Michael| title=Antipodean Imperialist: Sir John Latham, a Political Biography, 1902 to 1934 |url=https://nova.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/services/Download/uon:35168/ATTACHMENT01 | publisher=University of Newcastle |year=2018| type=PhD thesis}}
*{{cite journal|first=Clem|last=Lloyd|authorlink=Clem Lloyd|title=Not peace but a sword!: the High Court under J. G. Latham|journal=Adelaide Law Review|year=1987|volume=11|issue=2|pages=175–202|url=https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/agispt.19880552 }}
* {{cite AuDB |id2=latham-sir-john-greig-7104 |title=Latham, Sir John Greig (1877–1964) |first=Stuart |last=Macintyre |volume=10 |pages=2–6 |year=1986}}
* {{cite book |last=Morgan |first=D |year=2005 |title=The Australian Miscellany |publisher=Bantam |isbn=1-86325-537-0}}
* {{cite journal |first=Fiona |last=Wheeler |title=Sir John Latham's extra-judicial advising |url=https://law.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/1703486/35_2_11.pdf |year=2011 |volume=35 |issue=2 |journal=Melbourne University Law Review |page=651}}
* {{cite thesis| last=Widdows |first=Kelvin |title= Sir John Latham: Judicial Reasoning in Defence of the Commonwealth | url=http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:13104/SOURCE02?view=true| year=2014|publisher=University of New South Wales|type=PhD thesis}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|John Latham (judge)}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|au}}
{{succession box|title=[[Division of Kooyong|Member for Kooyong]]|years=1922–1934|before=[[Robert Best (Australian politician)|Robert Best]] |after=[[Robert Menzies]]}}
{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=[[Attorney-General of Australia|Attorney-General]]|years=1925–1929|before=[[Littleton Groom]] |after=[[Frank Brennan (Australian politician)|Frank Brennan]]}}
{{s-new|portfolio}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (Australia)|Minister for Industry]]|years=1928–1929}}
{{s-aft|after=[[James Scullin]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[James Scullin]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition|Leader of the Opposition]]|years=1929–1931}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Joseph Lyons]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Gullett]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition|Deputy Leader of the Opposition]]|years=1931–1932}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Frank Forde]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Attorney-General of Australia|Attorney-General]]|years=1932–1934|before=[[Littleton Groom]] |after=[[Robert Menzies]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia)|Minister for External Affairs]]|years=1932–1934|before=[[James Scullin]] |after=[[George Pearce]]}}
{{succession box|title=[[Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (Australia)|Minister for Industry]]|years=1932–1934|before= [[James Scullin]] |after= [[Robert Menzies]] }}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Stanley Bruce]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Nationalist Party (Australia)|Nationalist Party]] |  years=1929–1931}}
{{s-non|reason=Party disbanded}}
{{s-legal}}
{{succession box | title=[[Chief Justice of Australia]] | before=[[Frank Gavan Duffy|Sir Frank Gavan Duffy]] | after=[[Owen Dixon|Sir Owen Dixon]] | years=1935–1952}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Eric Longfield Lloyd]]|as=Commissioner}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of Australian Ambassadors to Japan|Australian Minister to Japan]] |years=1940–1941}}
{{s-vac|next=[[William Macmahon Ball]]|reason=Declaration of war}}
{{s-end}}

{{Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia}}
{{Leaders of the Nationalist Party of Australia}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Latham, John}}
[[Category:1877 births]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Australia to Japan]]
[[Category:Attorneys-general of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Leaders of the opposition (Australia)]]
[[Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Melbourne Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Nationalist Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:United Australia Party members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Kooyong]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of Australia]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Navy officers]]
[[Category:Australian military personnel of World War I]]
[[Category:Chief justices of Australia]]
[[Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia]]
[[Category:People educated at Scotch College, Melbourne]]
[[Category:Australian lacrosse players]]
[[Category:Australian King's Counsel]]
[[Category:Australian atheists]]
[[Category:Judges from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Liberal Party (1922) members of the Parliament of Australia]]
[[Category:Leaders of the Nationalist Party of Australia]]
[[Category:Former Methodists]]
[[Category:Australian former Christians]]
[[Category:People from Ascot Vale, Victoria]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1922–1925]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1925–1928]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1928–1929]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1931–1934]]
[[Category:Australian MPs 1929–1931]]