Public Sentinels
By: Dr Gabrielle Appleby, Professor Patrick Keyzer, Professor John M Williams
About This Book
In recent years, controversy has surrounded the role of top government lawyers both in the US and the UK where allegations of bad lawyering and bad ethics in public office have thrust this group into the public debate. By contrast Australia’s chief legal
AI Overview
Title: Public Sentinels: A Comparative Study of Australian Solicitors-General
Authors: Dr. Gabrielle Appleby, Professor Patrick Keyzer, and Professor John M. Williams
Publication Details:
- Publisher: Ashgate Publishing Limited
- Place of Publication: Farnham, Surrey
- Publication Year: 2014
- ISBN (Print): 978-1409454250
- Number of Pages: 282
Key Themes
- Role of Solicitors-General: The book explores the role of the Solicitor-General in Australian jurisdictions, providing a historical, theoretical, practical, and comparative perspective on this office.
- Transparency and Accountability: It highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government, particularly in the context of top government legal advisors.
- Comparative Analysis: The book offers a comparative analysis of the Solicitor-General's role across different Australian jurisdictions, drawing connections to other parts of the world.
- Constitutional Role: It delves into the constitutional role of Solicitors-General in upholding the rule of law, emphasizing their significance in public institutions.
Plot Summary
The book "Public Sentinels" is a scholarly edition that provides a comprehensive study of the Australian Solicitor-General's office. It includes contributions from current and former Solicitors-General, senior scholars, and judges from various jurisdictions. The collection aims to fill a gap in academic scholarship by examining the often-overlooked role of government lawyers.
The book is structured to offer a multifaceted understanding of the Solicitor-General's position, covering historical, theoretical, practical, and comparative aspects. It includes chapters that analyze the office's functions, its relationship with the judiciary and executive branches, and its impact on legal policy.
Critical Reception
Positive Reception:
- Laudatory Framework: The book has been praised for establishing a laudable framework for organizing future collections on the under-researched subject of government lawyers. It has been noted for assembling a remarkably varied range of analyses that allow readers to compare and contrast the views of 'insiders' and 'outsiders' with ease.
- International Impact: The Irish Yearbook of International Law 2015 noted that the book's foundations could encourage international legal scholars to inspect the constitutional position of government lawyers from their own respective watchtowers.
Book Review:
- A book review in The Irish Yearbook of International Law 2015 described "Public Sentinels" as a collection that exposes the lacuna in academic scholarship regarding government lawyers. It highlighted the book's ability to draw frequent connections between regional knowledge and global understanding, making it a valuable reference work for those interested in redefining the role of top government legal advisors.
Conclusion
"Public Sentinels" by Dr. Gabrielle Appleby, Professor Patrick Keyzer, and Professor John M. Williams is a seminal work that provides a rare and overdue insight into the role of the Australian Solicitor-General. The book's comprehensive approach, comparative analysis, and emphasis on transparency and accountability make it a significant contribution to the field of constitutional law and government institutions. Its critical reception has been positive, with scholars praising its framework and impact on international legal scholarship.