Justice Stephen Gageler AC has been appointed the fourteenth Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, succeeding Chief Justice Susan Kiefel AC, Australia’s first female chief justice, who retires in November.
“Justice Gageler has an outstanding reputation as a jurist,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “He is highly respected for his leadership abilities and deep knowledge and understanding of constitutional law.”
Justice Robert Beech-Jones, previously a justice of the NSW Supreme Court, has also been appointed to the High Court of Australia, filling Justice Gageler’s position.
The ACT Bar Association said it was delighted at the announcement of the two judicial appointments, and noted their connections to Canberra.
Both men were graduates of the Australian National University: Justice Gageler with a Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) and a Bachelor of Economics, and Justice Beech-Jones with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Science. Justice Gageler lived in Canberra as Commonwealth Solicitor-General (2008-12). He was also guest speaker at the 2013 ACT Bench and Bar Dinner.
Justice Gageler was appointed to the High Court in October 2012. He was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989, and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2000. He practised as a barrister throughout Australia, principally in constitutional, administrative, and commercial law. He also holds a Master of Laws from Harvard University.
Justice Beech-Jones served on the Supreme Court of New South Wales since 2012. He was appointed Chief Judge of the Common Law Division and a Judge of Appeal in 2021. He grew up in Tasmania, before studying in Canberra. He was admitted as a Barrister in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1992 and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2006.
NSW chief justice Andrew Bell praised the appointments.
“Both judges are universally admired and respected for their outstanding legal ability, the quality of their judgments, their integrity and humility, and strong sense of public service,” he said.
“Of Chief Justice-elect Gageler it may fairly be said that there is no practising lawyer in this country with a deeper knowledge of the Australian constitution.”
Mr Albanese acknowledged and thanked Chief Justice Kiefel’s “exceptional service”. She served 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.
With AAP
