Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that 62-year-old Justice Kiefel will take over from Robert French as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia when he retires from the bench in January, making her the first woman in the court’s 113-year history to hold the position. Her appointment was announced on Tuesday alongside that of 42-year-old James Edelman, who has been appointed as a High Court judge in order to fill the vacancy left behind by Justice Kiefel’s elevation. The appointments have received wide approval from both the Turnbull government and the Labour Party opposition, with shadow attorney general Mark Dreyfus describing both appointments as ‘highly deserved.’

Inspirational career

Justice Kiefel’s sensational legal career was described by Prime Minister Turnbull as ‘an inspiration’ on Tuesday. After dropping out of high school at the age of 15 in pursuit of financial independence, Justice Kiefel eventually secured a job working as a secretary at a Brisbane law firm. She studied for completion of her high school qualifications part-time while working at the firm, before later studying law part time through the barristers admission board. After practicing at the bar and then winning a master of laws from the University of Cambridge, Justice Kiefel became the first woman in the state of Queensland to take silk in 1987. She was appointed to the Queensland Supreme Court in 1993 and the Federal Court of Australia in 1994, and has served a tenure as president of the Queensland Bar Association.

Sign of the times

Many have heralded Justice Kiefel’s appointment as a milestone of women in the Australian legal profession, which is still working to shake off its historical ‘boys club’ status. Law Council of Australia president Stuart Clark described Justice Kiefel as a ‘trailblazer for women in the legal profession’ and ‘an inspiration to all young people considering a career in law.’ Australian Women Lawyers president Ann-Maree David also praised the appointment, but warned against complacency: ‘The appointment of Justice Susan Kiefel as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia gives us confidence that times are changing. However, neither Australian Women Lawyers nor the public they serve will wait another 113 years to achieve equality in all regards,’ she said, citing a persistent gender pay gap and poor elevation rates for women in private practice and the judiciary.

Sources: The Guardian; Australasian Lawyer; BBC