A chief justice is more than just a court’s figurehead: they are responsible for defending and promoting the court’s institutional integrity, and this must be taken into account when appointing them.
In an open letter to Attorney-General Christian Porter, more than 500 women working in the law from across Australia have sought changes to the way judges are disciplined and appointed.
An examination of the first year of decisions by the Kiefel High Court suggests that the Chief Justice's preference for collaborative decision-making is largely being met in practice.
The High Court will begin hearing the cases of seven federal parliamentarians who are citizens of other nations. If it was only a matter of applying the letter of the law, their fates would be clear, writes George Williams.
The government may be hoping that the momentum built towards the same-sex marriage postal vote will dissuade the High Court from striking it down, but George Williams says this may be a poor bet.
In striking out Bob Day's eligibility as a senator, the High Court has widened the grounds on which other members may be removed from Parliament, writes George Williams.
