Peter Connolly

Who was Peter Connolly?

Peter David Connolly QC was an Australian politician and judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland.

Born in Sydney in 1920, Connolly served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force between 1940 and 1946. After studying law at the University of Queensland, he was admitted as a barrister in 1949.

Connolly was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Queensland in the Queensland state election, 1957 for the Liberal Party. He served as MLA for Kurilpa from 1957 to 1960, but lost re-endorsement to his former campaign manager Clive Hughes in 1960; as a result, Connolly returned to the Bar, and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1963.

Connolly was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1978, serving until his retirement in 1990. He was known as a conservative 'black-letter lawyer' during his service in Parliament and on the bench. During his judicial service, he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Connolly died on 3 May 2009. As of 2011, he was the most recent judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland to have served in Parliament prior to his judicial service.

This eulogy was prepared and delivered by the Hon. Bruce McPherson CBE at St John's Cathedral on 11 May 2009: