Marcus Einfeld

Who is Marcus Einfeld?

Marcus Richard Einfeld is an Australian former justice of the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Courts of New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory; a former President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission; a UNICEF Ambassador for Children; and a longtime spokesperson both for and against Israeli and Jewish causes. His public life came to an end in 2009 when he became the first Australian former superior court judge to be imprisoned. He was sentenced to three years in prison for perjury and for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

In 1977, Einfeld was appointed a Queen's Counsel, but his commission was revoked on 26 November 2008. On 23 July 2009 the NSW Court of Appeal found that he was guilty of professional misconduct, was not a fit and proper person to remain on the roll of lawyers and ordered he be removed from it. The NSW Bar Association had applied to have him struck from the roll. Einfeld agreed not to apply for re-admission. His membership of the Order of Australia was also rescinded on 24 April 2009. Outside the field of the law, Einfeld has been a social activist in Australia and the Pacific region.