High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel says there is “still much to be done within the profession to advance women”.
Australia’s first female chief justice, Susan Kiefel, has urged senior female lawyers to resist going to the bench “out of a sense of duty”, saying the profession needs them in leadership roles.
Chief Justice Kiefel, who was Queensland’s first female Queen’s Counsel , became the first female judge on the Queensland Supreme Court in 1993. A year later she moved to the Federal Court.Advertisement“The general view then was that it would be beneficial to the profession for women to be part of the judiciary and for society more generally to see women in positions of authority.
“That may be better assisted by women remaining as senior counsel at the Bar or as senior solicitors and having a longer experience of leadership roles whilst at the same time providing a role model and being a mentor to other lawyers.”For the past year, women have accounted for most of the court for the first time.
“Your honour’s leadership has seen public confidence in this institution upheld, including in relation to standards of conduct – a very significant legacy for a chief justice of this court.”Mr Dreyfus also noted Chief Justice Kiefel’s efforts to have the court “speak as one voice” by having more judges sign up to majority opinions. He said that had led to “greater clarity, confidence and consistency in the law”.
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