James Richard Crawford

James Crawford was born on 14 November 1948 [1] in Adelaide, South Australia.[2] 

James Crawford studied at the University of Adelaide, where he was conferred a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in English history and politics) in 1972 [3].  He was then appointed lecturer in the University's Department of Law in 1974.[4]  Taking study leave, he continued his education abroad, graduating in 1977 from the University of Oxford with a Doctor of Philosophy (International law).[5]

In June of that year, he was appointed Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Adelaide and by 1982 he had become Reader in Law.[6]  In 1983 he was made Professor in the Department of Law.[7]

From 1982 Crawford became a full-time member of the Australian Law Reform Commission [8] where he worked on reports on the recognition of Aboriginal customary laws, foreign state immunity and admiralty jurisdiction.[9]  In 1981 he also received an award from the American Society of International Law for pre-eminent contribution to creative Scholarship.[10] 

Crawford joined the Sydney University Law School in 1986 as Challis Professor of International Law and became Dean of the Sydney Law School in 1990.[11]

From 1992 to 2014, Crawford was the Whewell Professor of International Law at the University of Cambridge and served as both Chair of the Faculty of Law and Director of the University's Lauterpacht Centre for International Law.[12]

The University of Adelaide James Crawford Biennial Lecture Series on International Law commenced in 2003, with Professor Crawford delivering the inaugural lecture, "The Rule of Law in International Law", on 23 September in Union Hall.[13]

In 2012 Crawford received the University of Adelaide's Distinguished Alumni Award for his outstanding contribution nationally and internationally in the field of international law.[14]

In 2013 Professor Crawford was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the law through significant contributions to international and constitutional legal practice, reform and arbitration, and as a leading jurist, academic and author.[15]

In 2015 the University of Adelaide awarded Crawford the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (honoris causa).[16] 

Professor Crawford died on 31 May 2021.[17]

Footnotes:

1. Crawford, James Richard. (1971) [Staff card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 587, Register of employees, alphabetical by surname.

2. Brown, M 2021, 'Probably Australia’s greatest international lawyer of all time’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June, viewed 3 January 2023, 
<https://www.smh.com.au/national/probably-australia-s-greatest-international-lawyer-of-all-time-20210615-p58178.html>.

3. Calendar of the University of Adelaide. (1973) 'Graduates, associates and diploma holders of the University', vol. 3, The Griffin Press, Adelaide, p. 1195.

4. Crawford, James Richard. (1971) [Staff card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 587, Register of employees, alphabetical by surname. 

5. Savage, C. 2021, 'University mourns passing of James Crawford (1948-2021)', Newsroom, 4 June, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/newsroom/news/list/2021/06/04/university-mourns-passing-of-james-crawford-1948-2021>.

6. Crawford, James Richard. (1971) [Staff card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 587, Register of employees, alphabetical by surname. 

7. Crawford, J. R. (Dr.) (Prof.). (1971) [Index card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1686, Registrar's correspondence index cards.

8. Australian Government 2023, 'Past Commissioners', Australian Law Reform Commission, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://www.alrc.gov.au/about/commissioners/past-commissioners/>.

9. Dingle, L. n.d., 'Biography: Judge James Crawford', Squire Law Library, University of Cambridge, viewed 3 January 2023,
<https://www.squire.law.cam.ac.uk/eminent-scholars-archivejudge-james-crawford/biography-judge-james-crawford>.

10. University of Adelaide Council 1981, The University of Adelaide Annual Report, The University of Adelaide, p. 10, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://connect.adelaide.edu.au/nodes/view/664>

11. The University of Sydney 2021, 'Vale Professor James Crawford', The University of Sydney Law School: News and Events, 15 June, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://www.sydney.edu.au/law/news-and-events/news/2021/06/15/vale-professor-james-crawford.html>.

12. University of Cambridge 2021, 'James Crawford 1948-2021', Faculty of Law: News articles, 1 June, viewed 3 January 2023,
<https://www.law.cam.ac.uk/press/news/2021/06/james-crawford-1948-2021>.

13. Adelaidean 2003, 'James Crawford lecture goes international', Adelaidean: News from the University of Adelaide, September, vol. 12, no. 8, viewed 4 January 2023, <https://adelaide.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/879/#idx120664>

14. The University of Adelaide 2021, 'Previous distinguished alumni award recipients', Alumni, 2012, viewed 31 October 2022,
<https://www.adelaide.edu.au/alumni/ua/media/4624/distinguished-alumni-award-recipients-2021.pdf>.

15. Australian Government, n.d., 'Professor James Richard Crawford', Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1147729>. 

16. The University of Adelaide 2022, 'Former officers and honorary degree holders of the University', University Archives, viewed 31 October 2022,
<https://www.adelaide.edu.au/records/university-archives/online-resources/former-officers-honorary-degree-holders#honorary-degree-of-doctor-honoris-causa>.

17. Brown, M 2021, 'Probably Australia’s greatest international lawyer of all time’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 16 June, viewed 3 January 2023, 
<https://www.smh.com.au/national/probably-australia-s-greatest-international-lawyer-of-all-time-20210615-p58178.html>.