Leslie Katz
{{Short description|Former Solicitor-General and Federal Court Judge}}
{{about||the American author and publisher|Leslie George Katz}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = The Honourable Justice
| name = Leslie Katz
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| office = Judge of the Federal Court of Australia
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| nationality = Australian, Canadian
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| occupation = Judge and lawyer
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| termend = 21 March 2002
| termstart = 30 September 1998
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Leslie Katz {{post-nominals|country=AUS|SC}} is a former Solicitor General for New South Wales (1997–1998) who later became a judge of the Federal Court of Australia.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=29 March 2012 |title=Former Judges of the Federal Court |url=https://www.fedcourt.gov.au/about/judges/former-judges |access-date=6 June 2022 |website=www.fedcourt.gov.au |language=en-AU}}{{Cite news |last=Pelly |first=Michael |date=29 November 2012 |title=Keith Mason takes a light touch when writing on his career |work=The Australian |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/legal-affairs/keith-mason-takes-a-light-touch-when-writing-on-his-career/news-story/fee8e598018914bb1a9d59c7809dfb0e |access-date=6 June 2022}} Katz served on the Court from 30 September 1998 to 21 March 2002.Kirby, Michael (12 December 2001) [https://www.hcourt.gov.au/assets/publications/speeches/former-justices/kirbyj/kirbyj_admin.htm "The Administrative Review Council - Early Days Remembered"] Administrative Review Council 25th Anniversary Dinner.{{Cite news |last=Milligan |first=Louise |date=8 Feb 2003 |title=Howard's 'hopeless cases' face angry judge's go-slow |work=Weekend Australian |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/356548151 |access-date=6 June 2022|id={{ProQuest|356548151}} }} Katz became seriously ill in December 2001, prompting his resignation the following year.{{Cite news |date=29 May 2022 |title=Courting new judges |pages=4 |work=The Advertiser |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/356071182 |access-date=6 June 2022|id={{ProQuest|356071182}} }} Previously an academic at the University of Sydney, Katz in 1980 had become a member of the New South Wales Bar.{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Natalie |date=2 October 1998 |title=Hughes off to racing start |pages=33 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/363497510 |access-date=6 June 2022|id={{ProQuest|363497510}} }}
As Solicitor General, Katz appeared in a case arising out of the Hindmarsh Island bridge controversy, where it was argued removing heritage protection is unconstitutional.{{Cite news |last=Kingston |first=Margo |date=28 Jan 1998 |title=NSW opposes Feds on bridge case |pages=4 |work=Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/363478351 |access-date=6 June 2022|id={{ProQuest|363478351}} }}
Katz reports having been influenced to move from a career in academia to practice by former High Court Justice Michael Kirby.{{Cite news |last=Young |first=Natalie |date=2 October 1998 |title=Seductive Talk |pages=34 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119649650/?terms=leslie%20katz%20&match=1 |via=Newspapers.com}} At the time, Kirby was the head of the Australian Law Reform Commission.