A new Chief Justice and Justice of the High Court of Australia have been appointed. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Justice Stephen Gageler AC has been appointed the 14th Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He will replace retiring Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, who has served in the role since 2017, on 6 November.
“Justice Gageler has an outstanding reputation as a jurist,” a joint 22 August release from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Attorney General Mark Dreyfus read.
“He is highly respected for his leadership abilities and deep knowledge and understanding of constitutional law.
“Justice Gageler is currently the most senior puisne Justice of the High Court.
“He has served on the High Court with distinction since 2012. Prior to this, Justice Gageler was the Commonwealth Solicitor-General.”
Justice Gageler holds a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University (ANU), and a Master of Laws from Harvard University. He was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989, and was appointed senior counsel in 2000.
Justice Robert Beech-Jones will be appointed to the High Court of Australia to fill the vacancy created by Justice Gageler.
“Justice Beech-Jones has served on the Supreme Court of New South Wales since 2012,” the release read. “In 2021 he was appointed Chief Judge of the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and a Judge of Appeal.”
Justice Beech-Jones holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and Bachelor of Science from ANU. He was admitted as a barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1992, and was appointed senior counsel in 2006.
“The [Federal] Government consulted extensively in the lead-up to this decision, including with all state and territory attorneys general, the Shadow Attorney General, the heads of the federal courts and state and territory supreme courts, state and territory bar associations and law societies, National Legal Aid, Australian Women Lawyers, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and deans of law schools across the country,” the release read.
Other leading candidates were thought to have been ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum, current solicitor-general Stephen Donaghue KC, Federal Court judge Nye Perram, former solicitor-general Justin Gleeson SC, and NSW Supreme Court judge Mark Leeming.
“We also acknowledge and thank Chief Justice Kiefel for her exceptional service as Chief Justice of the High Court since 2017, Justice of the High Court since 2007, and as a former Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Supreme Court of Queensland and Supreme Court of Norfolk Island.”
The Federal Opposition voiced its support of the appointments.
“The Coalition congratulates Justice Stephen Gageler AC on his appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and recognises his extensive experience both as a High Court Justice and previously as Australia’s solicitor-general,” it said in a statement.
“The Coalition congratulates Justice Robert Beech-Jones on his appointment to the High Court and acknowledges his long service as a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW and as Chief Judge at Common Law.”
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