The High Court of Australia will pay tribute to the late James D Merralls AM QC on Tuesday, 4 October, as part of its Full Court sittings in Canberra. Mr Merralls, an eminent senior member of the Victorian Bar, was Editor of the Commonwealth Law Reports from 1969 and a reporter for the series from 1960. Prior to joining the Bar, he was an associate to Chief Justice Sir Owen Dixon.

The Commonwealth Law Reports, published by Thomson Reuters, are the authorised reports of the High Court.

The High Court tribute follows earlier published tributes to the late J D Merralls:

• High Court of Australia, statement
• Commonwealth Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC, statement
• Thomson Reuters Legal ANZ, Managing Director Jackie Rhodes, statement
• Melbourne Law School, Assoc Prof Katy Barnett, post

Mr Merralls was a distinguished Editor who made a substantial contribution to legal publishing in Australia. For those interested in reading more about the history of the Commonwealth Law Reports and its Editors, please see the wonderful article he wrote for the Victorian Bar News ('The Commonwealth Law Reports: a personal reflection', by J D Merralls, Victorian Bar News, Issue 158, Summer 2015/16).