In a May 2017 speech, Justice Virginia Bell observed that "few Australians outside the law schools are likely to be able to name the Chief Justice, let alone the puisne justices of the High Court".[2]
Initially, there were three justices of the High Court – Chief Justice Sir Samuel Griffith, Justice Sir Edmund Barton and Justice Richard Edward O'Connor.[3] The number was expanded in 1906, at the request of the justices, to five, with the appointment of Justices Sir Isaac Isaacs and H. B. Higgins. After O'Connor's death in 1912, an amendment to the Judiciary Act 1903 expanded the bench to seven. For most of 1930, two seats were left vacant due to monetary constraints placed on the court by the Depression. The economic downturn had also led to a reduction in litigation and consequently less work for the court. After Isaacs retired in 1931, his seat was left empty, and in 1933 an amendment to the Judiciary Act officially reduced the number of seats to six. However, this led to some decisions being split three-all. With the appointment of William Webb in 1946, the number of seats returned to seven, and since then the court has had seven justices.[4] As of 2021[update] there have been 55 justices, 13 of whom have been chief justice.
Appointments to the court were for life until 1977, when a mandatory retirement age of 70 was established, though several post-1977 justices have retired before reaching the age of 70 (William Deane resigned as a justice to be appointed governor-general).
Composition of the High Courtedit
There have been 56 justices of the High Court; forty-nine have been men and seven women. The first female justice was Mary Gaudron who was a justice from 1987 to 2003. Susan Crennan was a justice from 2005 to 2015, and Virginia Bell from 2009 to 2021. The current Chief Justice of AustraliaSusan Kiefel is the first woman to have been appointed to the position. She was appointed in 2017 and had been a justice from 2007 to 2017. Of the seven current justices, four are women, including the chief justice. Michelle Gordon was appointed in 2015 and Jacqueline Gleeson in 2021, replacing Bell. Jayne Jagot replaced Justice Keane on the court in 2022, giving women a majority on the High Court for the first time.
This following chart illustrates the composition of the High Court. It indicates the seven seats of the court, and who has occupied each seat at different points in the court's existence. The red portions represent the future part of a judge's term and show the date at which they are bound to retire from the court (although they may choose to retire before that date). The blue portions of a judge's term show a period in which that judge was chief justice.
^Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act (Cth) s 71
^Bell, Virginia (29 May 2017). "Examining the Judge: Launch of Issue 40(2) UNSW Law Journal" (PDF). High Court of Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
^"History of the High Court". High Court. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
^Dixon, R; Williams, G, eds. (2015). The High Court, the Constitution and Australian Politics. Cambridge University Press. pp. 78–80, 118–119, 141–143, 160, 161. ISBN9781107043664. from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
^ ab"Chief Justice honoured at retirement ceremony". ABC News. 29 August 2008. Retrieved 30 August 2008.
^"Michael Kirby leaves High Court bench with 'faith' in law intact". The Australian. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
^"Solicitor-General Gagelar appointed to High Court". ABC News. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2012.
^Pelly, Michael (13 October 2022). "Keane laments exit after 'wonderful' innings on High Court". Australian Financial Review. Nine Entertainment Company. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
^Morrison, Scott (28 October 2020). "Press Conference - Australian Parliament House, ACT". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^"Federal Court of Australia". Australian Government Directory. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
^"Federal Court of Australia | Directory". Commonwealth of Australia. 17 October 2022. Archived from the original on 17 October 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Justices of the High Court of Australia.
Official website
December 15, 2023
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The High Court of Australia is composed of seven justices the chief justice of Australia and six other justices There have been 56 justices who have served as justices of the High Court since its formation under the Judiciary Act 1903 Under Section 71 of the Australian Constitution the judicial power of the Commonwealth of Australia is vested in the court 1 and it has been the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy since the passing of the Australia Act 1986 Official photograph of the first session of the High Court of Australia in the Banco Court Supreme Court of Victoria 6 October 1903 The mounting is autographed by the three foundation justices from left to right Edmund Barton Samuel Griffith and Richard O Connor In a May 2017 speech Justice Virginia Bell observed that few Australians outside the law schools are likely to be able to name the Chief Justice let alone the puisne justices of the High Court 2 Contents 1 History 2 Composition of the High Court 3 List of justices 4 Current justices 5 Seats of the High Court 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory editInitially there were three justices of the High Court Chief Justice Sir Samuel Griffith Justice Sir Edmund Barton and Justice Richard Edward O Connor 3 The number was expanded in 1906 at the request of the justices to five with the appointment of Justices Sir Isaac Isaacs and H B Higgins After O Connor s death in 1912 an amendment to the Judiciary Act 1903 expanded the bench to seven For most of 1930 two seats were left vacant due to monetary constraints placed on the court by the Depression The economic downturn had also led to a reduction in litigation and consequently less work for the court After Isaacs retired in 1931 his seat was left empty and in 1933 an amendment to the Judiciary Act officially reduced the number of seats to six However this led to some decisions being split three all With the appointment of William Webb in 1946 the number of seats returned to seven and since then the court has had seven justices 4 As of 2021 update there have been 55 justices 13 of whom have been chief justice Appointments to the court were for life until 1977 when a mandatory retirement age of 70 was established though several post 1977 justices have retired before reaching the age of 70 William Deane resigned as a justice to be appointed governor general Composition of the High Court editThere have been 56 justices of the High Court forty nine have been men and seven women The first female justice was Mary Gaudron who was a justice from 1987 to 2003 Susan Crennan was a justice from 2005 to 2015 and Virginia Bell from 2009 to 2021 The current Chief Justice of Australia Susan Kiefel is the first woman to have been appointed to the position She was appointed in 2017 and had been a justice from 2007 to 2017 Of the seven current justices four are women including the chief justice Michelle Gordon was appointed in 2015 and Jacqueline Gleeson in 2021 replacing Bell Jayne Jagot replaced Justice Keane on the court in 2022 giving women a majority on the High Court for the first time Thirteen politicians serving or former have been appointed to the High Court of Australia Nine justices have served in the Parliament of Australia Edmund Barton Richard O Connor Isaac Isaacs H B Higgins Edward McTiernan H V Evatt John Latham Garfield Barwick and Lionel Murphy All but Evatt were appointed after their parliamentary service Evatt resigned from the bench in order to pursue his federal political career although he had previously served in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly In addition to the above four justices served in colonial parliaments Samuel Griffith Charles Powers Albert Piddington and Adrian Knox although all concluded their political careers more than 10 years prior to their appointments As of 2023 the most recent justice to serve in state or federal parliament is Lionel Murphy List of justices editThe current judges are listed in bold on the table below Image Name State Birth death Position Termbegan Termended Time in office PM at app t Prev experience Notes1 nbsp Sir Samuel Griffith Qld 1845 1920 Chief justice 5 October 1903 17 October 1919 16 years 12 days Deakin Chief justice Sup Ct of Qld2 nbsp Sir Edmund Barton NSW 1849 1920 Justice 5 October 1903 7 January 1920 16 years 94 days Deakin None Former prime ministerDied in office3 nbsp Richard O Connor NSW 1851 1912 Justice 5 October 1903 18 November 1912 9 years 44 days Deakin None Died in office4 nbsp Sir Isaac Isaacs Vic 1855 1948 Justice 12 October 1906 21 January 1931 24 years 101 days a Deakin None Resigned to be appointed governor generalChief justice 2 April 1930 21 January 1931 294 days Scullin5 nbsp H B Higgins Vic 1851 1929 Justice 13 October 1906 13 January 1929 22 years 92 days Deakin None Died in office6 nbsp Sir Frank Gavan Duffy Vic 1852 1936 Justice 11 February 1913 1 October 1935 22 years 232 days a Fisher NoneChief justice 22 January 1931 1 October 1935 4 years 252 days Scullin7 nbsp Sir Charles Powers Qld 1853 1939 Justice 5 March 1913 22 July 1929 16 years 139 days Fisher None8 nbsp Albert Piddington NSW 1862 1945 Justice 6 March 1913 5 April 1913 30 days b Fisher None Resigned before sitting9 nbsp Sir George Rich NSW 1863 1956 Justice 5 April 1913 5 May 1950 37 years 30 days Fisher Sup Ct of NSW10 nbsp Sir Adrian Knox NSW 1863 1932 Chief justice 18 October 1919 31 March 1930 10 years 164 days Hughes None11 nbsp Sir Hayden Starke Vic 1871 1958 Justice 5 February 1920 31 January 1950 29 years 360 days Hughes None12 nbsp Sir Owen Dixon Vic 1886 1972 Justice 4 February 1929 13 April 1964 35 years 69 days a Bruce NoneChief justice 18 April 1952 13 April 1964 11 years 361 days a Menzies13 nbsp H V Evatt NSW 1894 1965 Justice 19 December 1930 2 September 1940 9 years 258 days Scullin None Resigned to return to politics14 nbsp Sir Edward McTiernan NSW 1892 1990 Justice 20 December 1930 12 September 1976 45 years 267 days Scullin None15 nbsp Sir John Latham Vic 1877 1964 Chief justice 11 October 1935 7 April 1952 16 years 179 days Lyons None16 nbsp Sir Dudley Williams NSW 1889 1963 Justice 15 October 1940 31 July 1958 17 years 289 days Menzies Sup Ct of NSW17 nbsp Sir William Webb Qld 1887 1972 Justice 16 May 1946 16 May 1958 12 years 0 days Chifley Chief justice Sup Ct of Qld18 nbsp Sir Wilfred Fullagar Vic 1892 1961 Justice 8 February 1950 9 July 1961 11 years 151 days Menzies Sup Ct of Vic Died in office19 nbsp Sir Frank Kitto NSW 1903 1994 Justice 10 May 1950 1 August 1970 20 years 83 days Menzies None20 nbsp Sir Alan Taylor NSW 1901 1969 Justice 3 September 1952 3 August 1969 16 years 334 days Menzies Sup Ct of NSW Died in office21 nbsp Sir Douglas Menzies Vic 1907 1974 Justice 12 June 1958 29 November 1974 16 years 170 days Menzies None Died in office22 nbsp Sir Victor Windeyer NSW 1900 1987 Justice 8 September 1958 29 February 1972 13 years 174 days Menzies None23 nbsp Sir William Owen NSW 1899 1972 Justice 22 September 1961 31 March 1972 10 years 191 days Menzies Sup Ct of NSW Died in office24 nbsp Sir Garfield Barwick NSW 1903 1997 Chief justice 27 April 1964 11 February 1981 16 years 290 days Menzies None25 nbsp Sir Cyril Walsh NSW 1909 1973 Justice 20 September 1969 29 November 1973 4 years 70 days Gorton Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of App Died in office26 nbsp Sir Harry Gibbs Qld 1917 2005 Justice 4 August 1970 5 February 1987 16 years 185 days a Gorton Fed Ct of BKSup Ct of QldChief justice 12 February 1981 5 February 1987 5 years 358 days a c Fraser27 nbsp Sir Ninian Stephen Vic 1923 2017 Justice 1 March 1972 11 May 1982 10 years 71 days McMahon Sup Ct of Vic Resigned to be appointed governor general28 nbsp Sir Anthony Mason NSW 1925 Justice 7 August 1972 20 April 1995 22 years 256 days a McMahon Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of AppChief justice 6 February 1987 20 April 1995 8 years 73 days c Hawke29 nbsp Sir Kenneth Jacobs NSW 1917 2015 Justice 8 February 1974 6 April 1979 5 years 57 days Whitlam Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of App30 nbsp Lionel Murphy NSW 1922 1986 Justice 10 February 1975 21 October 1986 11 years 253 days Whitlam None Died in office31 nbsp Sir Keith Aickin Vic 1916 1982 Justice 20 September 1976 18 June 1982 5 years 271 days Fraser None Died in office32 nbsp Sir Ronald Wilson WA 1922 2005 Justice 21 May 1979 13 February 1989 9 years 268 days c Fraser None33 nbsp Sir Gerard Brennan Qld 1928 2022 Justice 12 February 1981 21 May 1998 17 years 98 days a c Fraser Fed CtChief justice 21 April 1995 21 May 1998 3 years 30 days c Keating34 nbsp Sir William Deane NSW 1931 Justice 25 June 1982 11 November 1995 13 years 139 days c Fraser Fed Ct Resigned to be appointed governor general35 nbsp Sir Daryl Dawson Vic 1933 Justice 30 July 1982 15 August 1997 15 years 16 days c Fraser None36 nbsp John Toohey WA 1930 2015 Justice 6 February 1987 2 February 1998 10 years 361 days c Hawke Fed Ct37 nbsp Mary Gaudron NSW 1943 Justice 6 February 1987 31 January 2003 15 years 359 days c Hawke None38 nbsp Michael McHugh NSW 1935 Justice 14 February 1989 31 October 2005 16 years 259 days c Hawke Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of App39 nbsp William Gummow NSW 1942 Justice 21 April 1995 8 October 2012 17 years 170 days c Keating Fed Ct40 nbsp Michael Kirby NSW 1939 Justice 6 February 1996 2 February 2009 12 years 362 days c Keating Sup Ct of NSWPres NSW Ct of App41 nbsp Kenneth Hayne Vic 1945 Justice 22 September 1997 5 June 2015 17 years 256 days c Howard Sup Ct of VicVic Ct of App42 nbsp Ian Callinan Qld 1937 Justice 3 February 1998 31 August 2007 5 9 years 209 days c Howard None43 nbsp Murray Gleeson NSW 1938 Chief justice 22 May 1998 29 August 2008 6 10 years 99 days c Howard Chief justice Sup Ct of NSW44 Dyson Heydon NSW 1943 Justice 1 February 2003 28 February 2013 10 years 27 days c Howard Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of App45 nbsp Susan Crennan Vic 1945 Justice 1 November 2005 2 February 2015 9 years 93 days c Howard Fed Ct46 nbsp Susan Kiefel Qld 1954 Justice 4 September 2007 5 November 2023 16 years 62 days a c Howard Sup Ct of QldFed CtChief justice 30 January 2017 5 November 2023 6 years 279 days c Turnbull47 nbsp Robert French WA 1947 Chief justice 8 September 2008 6 29 January 2017 8 years 143 days c Rudd Fed Ct48 nbsp Virginia Bell NSW 1951 Justice 3 February 2009 7 28 February 2021 12 years 25 days c Rudd Sup Ct of NSWNSW Ct of App49 nbsp Stephen Gageler NSW 1958 Justice 9 October 2012 8 Incumbent 11 years 63 days c Gillard NoneChief justice 6 November 2023 Incumbent 35 days c Albanese50 nbsp Patrick Keane Qld 1952 Justice 1 March 2013 17 October 2022 9 9 years 230 days c Gillard Sup Ct of QldFed Ct51 nbsp Geoffrey Nettle Vic 1950 Justice 3 February 2015 30 November 2020 5 years 301 days c Abbott Sup Ct of Vic52 nbsp Michelle Gordon Vic 1964 Justice 9 June 2015 Incumbent 8 years 185 days c Abbott Fed Ct53 James Edelman WA 1974 Justice 30 January 2017 Incumbent 6 years 315 days c Turnbull Fed CtSup Ct of WA54 Simon Steward Vic 1969 Justice 1 December 2020 Incumbent 3 years 10 days c Morrison Fed Ct55 Jacqueline Gleeson NSW 1966 Justice 1 March 2021 Incumbent 2 years 285 days c Morrison Fed Ct56 Jayne Jagot NSW 1964 65 Justice 17 October 2022 Incumbent 1 year 55 days c Albanese Fed CtNSW LEC57 Robert Beech Jones NSW Justice 6 November 2023 Incumbent 35 days c Albanese Sup Ct of NSW a b c d e f g h i Terms as puisne justice and chief justice combined Albert Piddington resigned from the High Court before being sworn in He never sat on the High Court bench a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae Justices to whom mandatory retirement age 70 applied applies appointments since 1977Current justices editvte Name State Date appointed Mandatory retirement AppointingGovernor General NominatingPrime Minister Previous posting s EducationStephen Gageler AC Chief Justice NSW 6 November 2023 as Chief Justice 9 October 2012 as Justice 5 July 2028 David Hurley as Chief Justice Quentin Bryce as Justice Anthony Albanese Labor as Chief Justice Julia Gillard Labor as Justice Solicitor General of Australia Australian National UniversityHarvard UniversityMichelle Gordon AC Vic 9 June 2015 19 November 2034 Peter Cosgrove Tony Abbott Liberal Federal Court of Australia University of Western AustraliaJames Edelman WA 30 January 2017 9 January 2044 Peter Cosgrove Malcolm Turnbull Liberal Supreme Court of Western Australia Federal Court of Australia University of Western Australia Murdoch UniversityUniversity of OxfordSimon Steward Vic 1 December 2020 10 9 January 2039 11 David Hurley Scott Morrison Liberal Federal Court of Australia University of MelbourneJacqueline Gleeson NSW 1 March 2021 6 March 2036 David Hurley Scott Morrison Liberal Federal Court of Australia University of SydneyJayne Jagot NSW 17 October 2022 2035 12 David Hurley Anthony Albanese Labor Federal Court of AustraliaLand and Environment Court of New South Wales Macquarie UniversityUniversity of SydneyRobert Beech Jones NSW 6 November 2023 TBA David Hurley Anthony Albanese Labor Supreme Court of New South Wales Australian National UniversitySeats of the High Court editThis following chart illustrates the composition of the High Court It indicates the seven seats of the court and who has occupied each seat at different points in the court s existence The red portions represent the future part of a judge s term and show the date at which they are bound to retire from the court although they may choose to retire before that date The blue portions of a judge s term show a period in which that judge was chief justice See also editHigh Court of Australia List of law schools attended by Australian High Court justices List of chief justices of Australia by time in office List of juristsReferences edit Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act Cth s 71 Bell Virginia 29 May 2017 Examining the Judge Launch of Issue 40 2 UNSW Law Journal PDF High Court of Australia Retrieved 30 May 2020 History of the High Court High Court Retrieved 26 October 2016 Dixon R Williams G eds 2015 The High Court the Constitution and Australian Politics Cambridge University Press pp 78 80 118 119 141 143 160 161 ISBN 9781107043664 Archived from the original on 5 February 2021 Retrieved 14 September 2020 Callinan retires from High Court Australian Broadcasting Corporation 31 August 2007 Retrieved 31 August 2007 a b Chief Justice honoured at retirement ceremony ABC News 29 August 2008 Retrieved 30 August 2008 Michael Kirby leaves High Court bench with faith in law intact The Australian 2 February 2009 Retrieved 2 February 2009 Solicitor General Gagelar appointed to High Court ABC News 21 August 2012 Retrieved 21 August 2012 Pelly Michael 13 October 2022 Keane laments exit after wonderful innings on High Court Australian Financial Review Nine Entertainment Company Retrieved 17 October 2022 Morrison Scott 28 October 2020 Press Conference Australian Parliament House ACT Prime Minister of Australia Commonwealth of Australia Retrieved 28 October 2020 Federal Court of Australia Australian Government Directory Commonwealth of Australia Retrieved 28 October 2020 Federal Court of Australia Directory Commonwealth of Australia 17 October 2022 Archived from the original on 17 October 2022 Retrieved 17 October 2022 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Justices of the High Court of Australia Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of justices of the High Court of Australia amp oldid 1184540384, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
