Queenslander Patrick Keane appointed High Court judge

A SECOND Queensland judge, Patrick Keane, has been appointed to Australia's High Court.

A SECOND Queensland judge, Patrick Keane, has been appointed to Australia's High Court.

Justice Keane, who is currently a Federal Court judge, will replace Dyson Heydon on the High Court bench in March.

He is a former Judge on the Court of Appeal in Supreme Court of Queensland and was Solicitor-General for Queensland for 13 years.

The appointment means two out of the seven High Court judges will be from Queensland.

Another current High Court judge Susan Kiefel is from Queensland.

Justice Keane will be the eighth Queenslander ever to be appointed a High Court Justice.

He will be replaced on the federal court by Justice James Allsop.

Attorney General Nicola Roxon made the announcement this morning, saying both judges were "individuals of outstanding intellect and capacity for hard work".

"Chief Justice Keane is widely respected for the leadership and interpersonal skills he demonstrated in his time at the Federal Court," Ms Roxon said.