Kenneth Street (jurist)

Australian judge

Sir Kenneth Whistler Street, (28 January 1890 – 15 February 1972) was the 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales. These offices were held before him by his father Sir Philip Whistler Street and after by his son Sir Laurence Whistler Street, the only such viceregal succession in Australian history. Street enlisted in the British Army in the First World War and was deployed to France in September 1914 to fight with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He later rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Citizens Military Force. He was a lecturer at Sydney Law School and husband to Jessie Mary Grey, Lady Street, Australia's first female delegate to the United Nations.

Street was born on 28 January 1890 in Woollahra, the eldest son of Sir Philip Whistler Street and his Melbourne wife Belinda Maud (née Poolman). He attended Homebush Grammar School, Sydney Grammar School On 29 September 1914, he enlisted to serve in the First World War with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry in France. Street named his son Laurence in his brother's honour.

Between 1921 and 1927, Street lectured part time at Sydney Law School. Meanwhile, he continued his career in the Militia as a legal staff officer (1922–28) and rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel. In 1949, as senior puisne judge, Street acted as Chief Justice when Sir Frederick Jordan died. Confirmed in that office from 6 January 1950, he was sworn in on 7 February, thus becoming the second of three consecutive generations of the Street family to serve as Chief Justice and Lieutenant Governor of New South Wales. In 1951, he was made a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. In 1952, he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by the University of Sydney. In 1956, he was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. Sir Kenneth died peacefully on 15 February 1972 and had a state funeral at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney. Street House at Cranbrook School, Sydney was named in his honour.

Street married Jessie Mary Grey Lillingston, daughter of Charles Alfred Gordon Lillingston and Mabel Harriet Ogilvie, who was in turn the daughter of Australian politician Edward David Stuart Ogilvie and Theodosia Isabella Ogilvie (née de Burgh). His wife was a prominent suffragette who served as Australia's first female delegate to the United Nations. Sir Kenneth and Jessie had four children, Belinda, Roger, Philippa, who married the Australian Test cricketer Jack Fingleton, and Sir Laurence.