Justice John Walpole Willis and his biographer-of-sorts (i.e. me!) are about to have an exciting few days. Tonight (Friday 8th April) is the opening of the new exhibition at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria 175 Years of Judging for the People, which is on show between 11 April and 7 June 2016 (details here) .
Then tomorrow, Saturday 9th April is the RHSV Conference marking the publication of a new book Judging for the People: A Social History of the Supreme Court in Victoria 1841- 2016 at Victoria University in the city. I’m giving a short paper on the Bonjon case and its relationship to the Mabo judgment 151 years later.
Finally, on Tuesday 12th April, the book Judging for the People is being officially launched by the Chief Justice of Victoria on the very day of 175 Anniversary of the opening of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the district of Port Phillip. I wrote the first chapter of the book which starts off with the Resident Judges, who were the forerunners of the Supreme Court here in Victoria.
So, JWW and I had better both frock up for a few days of commemorative excitement!
The Resident Judge of Port Phillip 
I heard about the book launch and wondered if you would be involved, not knowing you had written some of the book.
Your weekly record surely makes you the judge’s Boswell, even if at a distance. Good luck with your events.
Thank you! It’s all rather fun.