‘Firm and gracious’ Kiefel calls time as chief justice

Michael PellyLegal editor

Updated Jun 16, 2023 – 12.19pm, first published at 12.11pm

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High Court Chief Justice Susan Kiefel has heard her last case and will step down in November, almost three months before she was due to retire.

Chief Justice Kiefel, the first woman to lead the court since it was established in 1903, will have her farewell ceremony on October 16 before leaving the role at midnight on November 5.

Michael Pelly is the legal editor, based in our Sydney newsroom. He has been a senior adviser to federal and state attorneys-general and written two books, one a biography of former High Court Chief Justice Murray Gleeson.