John Callan
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John Bartholomew Callan (15 August 1882 – 12 February 1951) was a New Zealand judge. He was a Justice of the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
(now known as the High Court of New Zealand) (1935–51).


Early life

Callan was the son of John Bartholomew Callan, a Dunedin lawyer and member of the New Zealand Legislative Council. He was born on 15 August 1882, five years after his family's arrival in New Zealand from Australia. The Callans had migrated from Ireland to Australia with the Gavan Duffy family and Callan was descended from
Charles Gavan Duffy Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, KCMG, PC (12 April 1816 – 9 February 1903), was an Irish poet and journalist (editor of ''The Nation''), Young Irelander and tenant-rights activist. After emigrating to Australia in 1856 he entered the politics of ...
. He was educated at the
Christian Brothers School The following is a list of the schools, colleges, and other educational institutions founded, run or staffed (in any capacity) by the Congregation of Christian Brothers (sometimes called the Irish Christian Brothers) since 1802. Some schools no l ...
in Dunedin (where he was Dux in 1897) and commenced his law studies before the Law Faculty of the University of Otago came into being. His principal instructor was James Garrow, a well-known New Zealand legal scholar. On 10 July 1913, at the
North East Valley North East Valley (sometimes spelt Northeast Valley, and often abbreviated to NEV) is a suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. Geography North East Valley sits in the valley of the Lindsay Creek, a tributary of the Water of Leith and on t ...
Roman Catholic Church, Dunedin, Callan married Margaret Elizabeth, daughter of James Dugald Mowat, a Dunedin stationer, and they had one son.


Lawyer

After graduating BA and
LL.B Bachelor of Laws ( la, Legum Baccalaureus; LL.B.) is an undergraduate law degree in the United Kingdom and most common law jurisdictions. Bachelor of Laws is also the name of the law degree awarded by universities in the People's Republic of Chi ...
at the University of Otago, Callan entered his father's office (Callan and Gallaway) and became a partner in the firm when his father was appointed to the New Zealand Legislative Council in 1907. He was appointed a lecturer in law at Otago University in 1912. During World War I, Callan served in the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force The New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) was the title of the military forces sent from New Zealand to fight alongside other British Empire and Dominion troops during World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945). Ultimately, the NZE ...
and became a captain. On his returned to Dunedin he continued his law practice. He also became Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago and he resumed his lectures in
Torts A tort is a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. Tort law can be contrasted with criminal law, which deals with criminal wrongs that are punishable ...
there. Callan took silk in 1934, and he moved to Wellington. In 1935, he was awarded the
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.


On the bench

Callan was appointed a Justice in the
Supreme Court A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of ...
in 1935 and went to Auckland as a resident Judge. As a Judge, apart from the normal case load, Justice Callan also undertook Government investigations on the Aliens Tribunal and on the leakage of information (both relevant to World War II). Callan also contributed on a wider stage. Apart from his ten years as Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Otago (1924–34), he was also a member of the Council of Legal Education.


Judicial character

Callan was recognised as one of the most kind and erudite judges of his era. He was characterised by his interest in detail in his cases. "He observed every facet of a case and frequently made comments that were reported in the press". He was much given to asking questions during a legal argument. "He had also a keen dramatic sense. His favourite leisure occupation seemed to be the recital in detail of matters grave or gay in some case with which he had been concerned either as counsel or Judge." He once observed that practice at the bar encouraged self-expression. But that, as the judges were recruited from the bar, such experts in self-expression were, as judges, put in a place where their greatest virtue was to be able to hold their tongues.


Catholic layman

Callan was a Catholic and was a leading layman for the New Zealand church. He was a close friend of James Michael Liston, the Catholic Bishop of Auckland. They had been contemporaries at the
Christian Brothers School The following is a list of the schools, colleges, and other educational institutions founded, run or staffed (in any capacity) by the Congregation of Christian Brothers (sometimes called the Irish Christian Brothers) since 1802. Some schools no l ...
in Dunedin and like Liston, Callan had continued a close association with the Christian Brothers. For example, when in 1939 Liston opened the new Christian Brother's school,
St Peter's College, Auckland St Peter's College ( mi, Te Kura Teitei o Hāto Petera) is a Catholic church, Catholic secondary school single-sex education, for boys in the Edmund Ignatius Rice, Edmund Rice tradition, and dedicated to St Peter. it is located in the Auckland CBD ...
, Callan sat on the podium with the bishop, representing the ex-pupils of the brothers. In 1922, (while still practising in Dunedin) Callan provided legal advice to Liston when the latter was charged with sedition. When
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stated that Catholic judges should not play any part in divorce cases, a disturbed Callan indicated that he was prepared to resign but decided, after discussion with Liston, that the Pope's statement did not apply to New Zealand as "divorce could be understood to refer to the civil contract of marriage rather than to the sacrament of matrimony". In spite of this decision, Callan remained a close friend of Liston until his death.


Death

Callan died in Auckland on 12 February 1951 at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife and his son. His Requiem Mass was celebrated by Liston at St Patrick's Cathedral and as his cortege left the cathedral, it passed through a guard of honour formed by boys from St Peter's College.


Notes


References

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Callan, John Batholomew 1882 births 1951 deaths New Zealand people of Irish descent People educated at Trinity Catholic College, Dunedin 20th-century New Zealand lawyers High Court of New Zealand judges New Zealand Roman Catholics University of Otago alumni