High Court (Australia) Trivia

Transcript of a single-judge hearing. Federal Court judge's application to be Deputy Judge Advocate General is argued to be apprehended bias in a case where Chief of Defence Force is party austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

"Although it is perhaps too soon to articulate fully the legacy of the Kiefel Court, one of its most significant hallmarks is its unanimity of voice". 2/2

"Of the 14 Chief Justices to have served since Federation, four have been Queenslanders ... Each has led the Court in different ways ... let me give you some highlights" fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-li… 1/2

@jeremy_gans hearing was on Tuesday not today ?

Single judge hearing today (indeed, now) seemingly in a matter concerning dismissal from the ADF: hcourt.gov.au/assets/registr…. See: classic.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/F… (although a SL application in that case was rejected last year: classic.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/H….)

"the Supreme Court of Canada announced on X, without explicit justification, that it would [leave X] ... the most retweeted and liked message from the Court ... an almost equally large and unprecedented stream of disapproving comments".

Kirby ex-J spoke at @MelbLawSchool this month; 'What is it like being a High Court Justice?'. Video (one hour) and a brief description at law.unimelb.edu.au/news/MLS/justi…

CJ: If there is something you must say in response to [document to be filed Friday], you will say that within two working days. COUNSEL: Yes. May it please the Court, what does your Honour call a working day? CJ: I will amend that to three working days. austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

GORDON J: I do not mean any disrespect, but that is just the way it seems. MR GLEESON: No, I will take disrespect – if it is coming from your Honour rather than Mr Bannon [opposing counsel], I am happy. austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

COUNSEL: I am just pointing out Lord Sales joined in. GAGELER CJ: Following precedent. COUNSEL: Yes, or realising the error of his ways or ‑ ‑ ‑ GAGELER CJ: Following precedent. austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

an inexorably slow train from Circular Quay to Randwick Racecourse. ... BEECH-JONES J: It goes via the SCG, Mr Bannon, so do not underestimate that. MR BANNON: You can walk faster from the city to the SCG, and I hereby give firsthand evidence thereof. austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

"I am also told that your Honour’s party trick is your ability to recall the precise Commonwealth Law Report citation for any High Court case and often the page on which a particular passage appeared". fedcourt.gov.au/digital-law-li…

Great story.

"the High Court decided to invite him to a luncheon to mark [his retirement] ... no other advocate in the history of the High Court has been offered such an honour. It really was a reflection of the fact that records show he appeared in ". 3/3

"His style was elegant, his tone soft, his language simple and his argument succinct. He was composed under pressure” : Kiefel CJ's eulogy at the memorial service for David Jackson, May 2023. hearsay.org.au/the-hon-david-… 2/3

10 May 1995 and 10 May 2000, two of David Jackson QC's 296 cases in the Court austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdb… 1/3

@iosefmann GAGELER CJ: There will be no need for the announcement of appearances. The transcript will record the appearances as set out in the Court list.

GORDON J: Well, then, I do not understand it. GAGELER CJ: That is two of us. EDELMAN J: Three. austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo…

Next week in @highcourtofaus, we will get: - reasons for the failure of the challenge to party name registration rules three months ago - judgment in a case about treaty limits on damages for airline-related injuries, heard two months ago

A very prominent barrister once told me she filled out her Senate ballot by putting one party's candidates first, another's last. On working her way to the middle from both ends, she saw the name of a solicitor who had not paid her fees and needed to ask for a new ballot paper.

"The old system of voting was to strike out the name of the candidate for whom the elector did not desire to vote, and it may be that this particular elector really intended to vote against the candidate opposite whose name he has placed the cross". 3/3

"There is one ballot-paper with a cross opposite a name which is struck through; that I reserve for further consideration. ..." 2/3

Griffith CJ: “A number of votes appear to have been rejected because a black pencil had been used instead of a blue one, but I think that is not a sufficient ground for disallowing them ”: 1 CLR 314, 316 www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdo… 1/3