John William von Doussa was born on 17 September, 1940. He was educated at St. Peter's College, Adelaide, and then went on to study Law at the University of Adelaide. Graduating with LLB (Bachelor of Law) in 1962, he was admitted to the Bar in 1963.
In 1986, von Doussa was appointed to the Supreme Court of South Australia as a Judge. In 1988 he was appointed as a Judge to the High Court of Australia and retained that appointment until 2003.
From 2003 – 2008 he was the President of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions and Chair of the Australian Competition Tribunal. Von Doussa was not afraid of controversy and going against the tide of public opinion as was made clear by the judgment he made in 2001, following the re-opening of the debate around the Hindmarsh Island Bridge construction and of the strong native Australian cultural ties to the region.
From 2003 - 2012, von Doussa served as Judge on the Industrial Relations Court of Australia. He also served as acting Sex Discrimination Commissioner and acting Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination (2006-2007).
In 2004, von Doussa was appointed Chancellor of the University of Adelaide where he served two terms, retiring in 2010. The following year, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of the University, the university's highest honour, by his successor as chancellor Robert Hill.
John von Doussa was a staunch supporter of human rights. He received the award of AO for his services to justice, human rights and education and believed that Australia could best protect its own citizens in this regard, not by judicial but by political means, by having an Australian Bill of Rights enacted by the Australian Parliament.
