Susan Kiefel
Encyclopedia
Susan Mary Kiefel AC
(born 17 January 1954) is a Justice of the High Court of Australia
, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy
.
in 1954. She briefly attended Sandgate District State High School
, dropping out at the age of 15 upon completing Year 10. In 1971, she completed secretarial training at Kangaroo Point
Technical College
on a scholarship
. She initially worked as a secretary for a building society
, an architect and an exploration company, before starting work as a law firm receptionist at barristers Fitzgerald, Moynihan and Mack. During this time, she completed secondary school
and began studying law.
In 1973 she joined Cannan and Peterson solicitors as a legal clerk. Completing her education at night, she enrolled in the Barristers Admission Board course and passed her course with honours. In 1984, while on sabbatical leave she completed her Master of Laws
(LLM) at the University of Cambridge
, where she was awarded the C.J. Hamson Prize in Comparative Law
and the Jennings Prize. In 2008 she was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of Wolfson College, Cambridge
.
in 1978 and served on its committee in 1993. She was appointed as the first female Queens Counsel in Queensland
in 1987 and was appointed to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
in 1989.
In May 1993 Kiefel was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland
. The following year she was appointed by the Keating
government to the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island
and was one of the first women to be appointed to the Federal Court of Australia
on 17 October 1994, after Justice Deirdre O'Connor.
In October 2001 she was appointed Deputy President of the Australian Federal Police
Disciplinary Tribunal and became its president in April 2004.
In 2003 Kiefel was appointed as a part-time commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission
, and was re-appointed for a further three years in 2006.
In August 2009 Justice Kiefel was granted an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University
. Justice Kiefel was chosen to recognise her distinguished contributions to the legal profession and leading the way for women in the industry.
On 13 June 2011, she was named a Companion of the Order of Australia
for eminent service to the law and to the judiciary, to law reform and to legal education in the areas of ethics, justice and governance.
Philip Ruddock
announced Kiefel as the nominee to the High Court of Australia
to replace the retiring High Court Justice Ian Callinan
. Kiefel had previously been considered a favourite nominee to replace former High Court Justice Mary Gaudron
when she retired in 2003, and again in 2005 as replacement for Justice Michael McHugh
. Kiefel is the third female High Court Justice and the forty sixth overall. Her appointment alongside incumbent Justice Susan Crennan
marked the first time two women sat concurrently on the High Court bench.
Kiefel's nomination was met with support from the Australian Bar Association
, amidst criticism of the lack of consultation by the Australian government. She is considered a conservative "black letter" judge.
Under the Australian Constitution, Kiefel must retire at the age of 70. Her appointment at such a relatively young age marks a generational change in the court, as she is eligible to remain seated on the bench until 2024, outlasting all of the bench at the time of her appointment by nine years.
she met her future husband, Michael Albrecht, a social anthropologist
, when she became a member of the College rowing crew and Albrecht was her coach.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 17 January 1954) is a Justice of the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy
Australian court hierarchy
There are two streams within the hierarchy of Australian courts, the federal stream and the state and territory stream. While the federal courts and the court systems in each state and territory are separate, the High Court of Australia remains the ultimate court of appeal for the Australian...
.
Early life and education
Kiefel was born in Cairns, QueenslandCairns, Queensland
Cairns is a regional city in Far North Queensland, Australia, founded 1876. The city was named after William Wellington Cairns, then-current Governor of Queensland. It was formed to serve miners heading for the Hodgkinson River goldfield, but experienced a decline when an easier route was...
in 1954. She briefly attended Sandgate District State High School
Sandgate District State High School
Sandgate District State High School is an Australian secondary school located in Deagon, Queensland. Its motto is "Industria Floremus", which translates to "hard work brings success", or more literally "through industry we flourish"...
, dropping out at the age of 15 upon completing Year 10. In 1971, she completed secretarial training at Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point, Queensland
Kangaroo Point is a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia located directly east across the Brisbane River from the Brisbane central business district.- Geography :...
Technical College
Technical and Further Education
In Australia, training and further education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, mostly qualifying courses under the National Training System/Australian Qualifications Framework/Australian Quality Training Framework...
on a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
. She initially worked as a secretary for a building society
Building society
A building society is a financial institution owned by its members as a mutual organization. Building societies offer banking and related financial services, especially mortgage lending. These institutions are found in the United Kingdom and several other countries.The term "building society"...
, an architect and an exploration company, before starting work as a law firm receptionist at barristers Fitzgerald, Moynihan and Mack. During this time, she completed secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
and began studying law.
In 1973 she joined Cannan and Peterson solicitors as a legal clerk. Completing her education at night, she enrolled in the Barristers Admission Board course and passed her course with honours. In 1984, while on sabbatical leave she completed her Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
(LLM) at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, where she was awarded the C.J. Hamson Prize in Comparative Law
Comparative law
Comparative law is the study of differences and similarities between the law of different countries. More specifically, it involves study of the different legal systems in existence in the world, including the common law, the civil law, socialist law, Islamic law, Hindu law, and Chinese law...
and the Jennings Prize. In 2008 she was elected to an Honorary Fellowship of Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
.
Legal and judicial career
Kiefel was admitted to the bar in 1975. She became an honorary secretary of the Queensland Bar AssociationBar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1978 and served on its committee in 1993. She was appointed as the first female Queens Counsel in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
in 1987 and was appointed to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
The Australian Human Rights Commission is a national human rights institution, a statutory body funded by, but operating independently of, the Australian Government. It has the responsibility for investigating alleged infringements under Australia’s anti-discrimination legislation...
in 1989.
In May 1993 Kiefel was appointed to the Supreme Court of Queensland
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
. The following year she was appointed by the Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
government to the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island
Supreme Court of Norfolk Island
The Supreme Court of Norfolk Island hears certain cases in the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It is the superior Court of Norfolk Island...
and was one of the first women to be appointed to the Federal Court of Australia
Federal Court of Australia
The Federal Court of Australia is an Australian superior court of record which has jurisdiction to deal with most civil disputes governed by federal law , along with some summary criminal matters. Cases are heard at first instance by single Judges...
on 17 October 1994, after Justice Deirdre O'Connor.
In October 2001 she was appointed Deputy President of the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
Disciplinary Tribunal and became its president in April 2004.
In 2003 Kiefel was appointed as a part-time commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission
Australian Law Reform Commission
The Australian Law Reform Commission is an Australian independent statutory body established to conduct reviews into the law of Australia and advocate options for law reform...
, and was re-appointed for a further three years in 2006.
In August 2009 Justice Kiefel was granted an Honorary Doctorate from Griffith University
Griffith University
Griffith University is a public, coeducational, research university located in the southeastern region of the Australian state of Queensland. The university has five satellite campuses located in the Gold Coast, Logan City and in the Brisbane suburbs of Mount Gravatt, Nathan and South Bank. Current...
. Justice Kiefel was chosen to recognise her distinguished contributions to the legal profession and leading the way for women in the industry.
On 13 June 2011, she was named a Companion of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for eminent service to the law and to the judiciary, to law reform and to legal education in the areas of ethics, justice and governance.
Appointment to the High Court
On 13 August 2007, Attorney-GeneralAttorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
Philip Ruddock
Philip Ruddock
Philip Maxwell Ruddock is an Australian politician who is currently a member of the House of Representatives representing the Division of Berowra, New South Wales, for the Liberal Party of Australia...
announced Kiefel as the nominee to the High Court of Australia
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
to replace the retiring High Court Justice Ian Callinan
Ian Callinan
Ian David Francis Callinan, AC, QC is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Education:...
. Kiefel had previously been considered a favourite nominee to replace former High Court Justice Mary Gaudron
Mary Gaudron
Mary Genevieve Gaudron, AC, QC , Australian lawyer and judge, was the first female Justice of the High Court of Australia.-Youth:...
when she retired in 2003, and again in 2005 as replacement for Justice Michael McHugh
Michael McHugh
Michael Hudson McHugh, AC, QC is a former justice of the High Court of Australia; the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Judicial Activity:...
. Kiefel is the third female High Court Justice and the forty sixth overall. Her appointment alongside incumbent Justice Susan Crennan
Susan Crennan
Susan Maree Crennan AC , is an Australian judge, a Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.-Biography:...
marked the first time two women sat concurrently on the High Court bench.
Kiefel's nomination was met with support from the Australian Bar Association
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
, amidst criticism of the lack of consultation by the Australian government. She is considered a conservative "black letter" judge.
Under the Australian Constitution, Kiefel must retire at the age of 70. Her appointment at such a relatively young age marks a generational change in the court, as she is eligible to remain seated on the bench until 2024, outlasting all of the bench at the time of her appointment by nine years.
Personal life
While at Wolfson CollegeWolfson College, Cambridge
Wolfson College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England. Wolfson is one of a small number of Cambridge colleges which admit only students over the age of 21. The majority of students at the college are postgraduates, with around 15% studying undergraduate...
she met her future husband, Michael Albrecht, a social anthropologist
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
, when she became a member of the College rowing crew and Albrecht was her coach.