Simon Corbell is doing the honours to farewell Chief Justice Higgins from the bench:
The Hon Justice Terence Higgins AO was today congratulated and farewelled by Attorney-General, Simon Corbell, and members of the ACT legal community at a ceremonial sitting of the ACT Supreme Court.
“Today marks the end of a long and distinguished legal career in the Territory,” Mr Corbell said.
“I would like to personally thank the Chief Justice for the dedication and commitment he has shown to the ACT community during his 23 years on the bench of the ACT Supreme Court.”
Chief Justice Higgins was appointed as a Judge of the Federal Court and of the ACT Supreme Court in 1990, and in 2003 he was appointed Chief Justice.
“As Attorney-General, I have enjoyed a productive relationship with the Chief Justice. This has allowed the government and the court to work together to improve the operation of the ACT Supreme Court, including through the blitz and improved court management systems,” Mr Corbell said.
“While the retirement of the Chief Justice marks the end of a substantial contribution to law and justice in the ACT, I am certain that it will not mark the end of the Hon Terrence Higgin’s contribution to our community.
“On behalf of the government, I thank him for his dedicated service and wish him well in his retirement.”
It must have been around 1993 that a callow Johnboy sat on an ACTION bus listening to two recently released convicts trading war stories, planning their visits to brothels, harassing the women on the bus, and reflecting that appearing before Justice Higgins was better than a winning lottery ticket.