Newest Chief Justice of the High Court Susan Kiefel and Justice Edelman begin HCA Duty
Tuesday 31 January 2017 @ 12.44 p.m. | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure | Legal Research
Following on from our previous TimeBase article, Chief Justice Susan Kiefel was sworn in as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and began her term yesterday (30 January 2017). Additionally, Justice Edelman was also appointed and began his term to replace Justice Kiefel on the bench.
Chief Justice Kiefel
As stated in the AG: Speech:
"In the more than 113 years that have passed since Sir Samuel Griffith was sworn in as the first Chief Justice of this Court, on the 6th October 1903, only twelve people have occupied that highest of judicial offices. Your Honour [Chief Justice Kiefel] will be the thirteenth Chief Justice of this Court, the fourth from Queensland, and the first woman."
Chief Justice Kiefel left school at 15, completing her high school studies part-time while working as a legal secretary. She studied law part-time before being admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1975. In 1987 she became the first woman in Queensland to be appointed Queen's Counsel.
Australian Bar Association President Patrick O’Sullivan QC said in a statement to Australasian Lawyer:
“Justice Kiefel is one of Australia’s most outstanding judicial officers and an inspiration to young women throughout the profession and Australia.”
Again, from the AG:Speech upon Chief Justice Kiefel's start of duty yesterday:
"We have it from no less an authority than Lord Atkin that "justice is not a cloistered virtue". Your Honour is not a cloistered person. You bring to this office not merely outstanding achievements as a scholar and a superb reputation as a judge, but all the wisdom born of a life - rich, diverse, and not without its challenges, especially in the early years. The fusion of those qualities will make you an outstanding leader of this Court."
Chief Justice Kiefel replaces Robert French, who has finished his term on the High Court bench after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
Justice Edelman
To fill the vacancy created by Chief Justice French's retirement and Justice Kiefel's ascendancy, Justice James Edelman was also appointed to the High Court bench.
He is one of the youngest people to ever join the court, and at 43, will not reach the mandatory age of retirement for more than 25 years.
In his speech, he stated:
"Twenty-seven years as a judge of this court might seem to be a long time when measured against a single lifetime, but in the life of the law, it will not be much more than the blink of an eye."
TimeBase is an independent, privately owned Australian legal publisher specialising in the online delivery of accurate, comprehensive and innovative legislation research tools including LawOne and unique Point-in-Time Products.
Sources:
AG: Speech: Justice Edelman - 30 January 2017
AG: Speech: Swearing-in of Chief Justice of the High Court - 30 January 2017
