Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced two new appointments to the High Court.
Federal Court justices Simon Steward from Victoria and Jacqueline Gleeson from NSW will join the bench within months, replacing outgoing judges Geoffrey Nettle and Virginia Bell.
“Every justice appointed to the High Court carries a significant burden to uphold the laws of our land,” Morrison told reporters in Canberra on Oct. 28.
“I congratulate Justice Steward and Gleeson and I wish them all the best.”
Justice Geoffrey Nettle will retire on Nov. 30 and Justice Bell will finish in February, 2021.
Attorney General Christian Porter said the incoming justices were outstanding legal minds and would make very useful additions to the High Court.
“Both have absolutely impeccable records and skills for the High Court,” he said.
Porter described the six-month selection process as exhaustive and extensive.
Justice Gleeson is the daughter of former High Court chief justice Murray Gleeson.
“That places her in a rather unique position. I am told that is a first in common law countries,” Porter said.
No South Australian has ever been appointed to the High Court, and the state was overlooked again.
Porter said the historic geographic snub weighed heavily on his mind but he did not commit to appointing a South Australian in the future.
UNSW constitutional law expert George Williams said the government had appointed “two fine lawyers with impeccable legal credentials.”
“These are safe appointments that are unlikely to excite political controversy,” he told AAP.
“Both are well qualified for appointment, with their backgrounds giving every reason to expect that they will serve on the High Court with distinction.
“These appointments are not likely to herald any significant shift of approach by the High Court, at least in the short term.”
However, he noted it continued the record of SA and Tasmania never having a judge appointed to the High Court, and that with the court handing many criminal matters “there is now a gap on the bench in not having a specialist in that area of law.”
