Lawyers Weekly Australia reports
For the first time ever, the High Court of Australia will have a majority-female bench, with Justice Jayne Jagot to become the newest appointee to the nation’s foremost bench.
Earlier this morning, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC announced, Governor-General David Hurley accepted the advice of the Albanese Government to appoint Jagot J to the High Court.
Jagot J, a former partner at Mallesons Stephen Jaques (now King & Wood Mallesons), practised as a barrister before becoming a judge of the Land and Environment Court of NSW, Deputy President of the Copyright Tribunal of Australia, Additional Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory, before becoming a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia.
Her Honour will commence in the role on 17 October, following the retirement of Justice Patrick Keane.
Jagot J is 56th Justice of the High Court and the seventh woman appointed to the Court.
Her Honour’s appointment marks the first time, since Federation, that a majority of Justices on the High Court will be women.
In a statement, A-G Dreyfus said that Jagot J is “regarded as an outstanding lawyer and an eminent judge”.
“The Government congratulates Justice Jagot on her well-deserved appointment. It is a role that she will fill with distinction,” he said.
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