description Susan Kiefel Overview
Susan Kiefel is an Australian jurist who served as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from November 2017 until her retirement in November 2023. She was the first woman to hold the position of Chief Justice of Australia. Appointed to the High Court in 2007, she had previously served as a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1994 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in Queensland in 1987. She was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for her contributions to the law and the judiciary.
insights Ranking position
Susan Kiefel ranks #63 of 270 in the Judge ranking, behind Anthony M. Kennedy, ahead of Lord Reed.
help Susan Kiefel FAQ
What made Susan Kiefel's appointment as Chief Justice historic?
Kiefel became the first woman to lead the High Court of Australia when she was sworn in during 2017. She served as Chief Justice until her retirement in 2023.
Did Susan Kiefel attend law school in the usual way?
No, she left school young, worked as a legal secretary, and studied independently through Queensland's Barristers' Admission Board. That unconventional path eventually took her to the bar and Australia's highest court.
When did Susan Kiefel join the High Court?
She was appointed as a High Court justice in 2007 and became the third woman to serve on the court. Nearly a decade later, she succeeded Robert French as Chief Justice.
Which courts did Susan Kiefel serve on before the High Court?
Her judicial career included appointments to the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia. She had earlier become Queensland's first woman appointed as Queen's Counsel.
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