- New High Court judge sworn in
- The Herald Sun
- 03/02/2009 Make a Comment
- Contributed by: The Rooster ( 258 articles in 2009 )
Australia's newest High Court judge, Justice Virginia Bell, once remarked to a reputed hitman preparing to face court that he looked like he was dressed to kill.
Justice Bell, 57, will be only the fourth woman to sit on the High Court bench after being sworn in at a ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday.
Formerly an appeal judge with the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Bell replaces former justice Michael Kirby who departed on Monday on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
She is the High Court's 48th judge.
Justice Bell joins two other women on the seven-member bench, Justice Susan Crennan, who was appointed in 2005, and Justice Susan Kiefel, who was appointed in 2007.
Beginning her legal career in 1978 as a solicitor at the newly-established Redfern Legal Centre, Justice Bell then spent 20 years in private practice and working as a public defender.
She also served as counsel assisting the Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service.
Her resume also includes a stint as a late night talk show host on ABC radio and she has a longstanding interest in 13th and 14th century Italian devotional art.
Both Mr Kirby and the first woman to sit on the High Court bench, former Justice Mary Gaudron attended the ceremony, as did Attorney General Robert McClelland.
Mr McClelland said the elevation of Justice Kirby to the High Court was a further acknowledgment of her sound judgment, intellect and quick ability to become conversant with new areas of law.
Despite her work with the poor and disadvantaged, she had avoided the pitfalls of sentimentality and political correctness, he said.
"On one occasion, meeting a client, a reputed hitman charged with murder, before a court hearing, you were heard to remark, 'Look at you Chris, dressed to kill'," he said.
"In court, you were renowned for your ability to run a flawless trial and conduct incisive cross-examinations.
"Your skills of persuasion, both with judges and juries, reflected your deep interest in, and respect for, people from all walks of life."
© 2009 AAP
Justice Bell, 57, will be only the fourth woman to sit on the High Court bench after being sworn in at a ceremony in Canberra on Tuesday.
Formerly an appeal judge with the NSW Supreme Court, Justice Bell replaces former justice Michael Kirby who departed on Monday on reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
She is the High Court's 48th judge.
Justice Bell joins two other women on the seven-member bench, Justice Susan Crennan, who was appointed in 2005, and Justice Susan Kiefel, who was appointed in 2007.
Beginning her legal career in 1978 as a solicitor at the newly-established Redfern Legal Centre, Justice Bell then spent 20 years in private practice and working as a public defender.
She also served as counsel assisting the Wood Royal Commission into the NSW Police Service.
Her resume also includes a stint as a late night talk show host on ABC radio and she has a longstanding interest in 13th and 14th century Italian devotional art.
Both Mr Kirby and the first woman to sit on the High Court bench, former Justice Mary Gaudron attended the ceremony, as did Attorney General Robert McClelland.
Mr McClelland said the elevation of Justice Kirby to the High Court was a further acknowledgment of her sound judgment, intellect and quick ability to become conversant with new areas of law.
Despite her work with the poor and disadvantaged, she had avoided the pitfalls of sentimentality and political correctness, he said.
"On one occasion, meeting a client, a reputed hitman charged with murder, before a court hearing, you were heard to remark, 'Look at you Chris, dressed to kill'," he said.
"In court, you were renowned for your ability to run a flawless trial and conduct incisive cross-examinations.
"Your skills of persuasion, both with judges and juries, reflected your deep interest in, and respect for, people from all walks of life."
© 2009 AAP
Source: https://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/new-high-court-judge-sworn-in-20090203-7wdt.html
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