Susan Kiefel

] The following year she was appointed by the Keating government to the Supreme Court of Norfolk Island and was one of the first women to be appointed to the Federal Court of Australia on October 17, 1994, after Justice Deirdre O'Connor. [cite web|url=http://www.fedcourt.gov.au/aboutct/jj_seniority.html#kiefel.htm|title=Judges in appointment date order - the Hon Susan Mary Kiefel|accessdate=2007-08-13]

In October 2001 she was appointed Deputy President of the Australian Federal Police Disciplinary Tribunal and became its president in April 2004.

In 2003 Kiefel was appointed as a part-time commissioner of the Australian Law Reform Commission, and was re-appointed for a further three years in 2006.

Appointment to the High Court

On August 13, 2007, Attorney General Phillip Ruddock announced Kiefel as the nominee to the High Court of Australia to replace the retiring High Court Justice Ian Callinan. Kiefel had previously been considered a favourite nominee to replace former High Court Justice Mary Gaudron when she retired in 2003 [cite news|last=Shaw|first=Meaghan | url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/second-woman-appointed-to-high-court/2005/09/20/1126982047232.html | title=Second woman appointed to High Court|publisher=The Age|date=2005-09-20|accessdate=2007-08-13] , and again in 2005 as replacement for Justice Michael McHugh.cite news|last=Pelly|first=Michael | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/mchughs-angels-10-women-fit-for-high-court-says-top-judge/2005/08/18/1123958182102.html | title=McHugh's angels: 10 women fit for High Court, says top judge | publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2007-08-19|accessdate=2007-08-13] Kiefel is the third female High Court Justice and the forty sixth overall. Her appointment alongside incumbent Justice Susan Crennan marks the first time two women have sat on the High Court bench concurrently. [cite news|last=Hudson | first=Phillip | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/ruddock-names-new-high-court-judge/2007/08/13/1186857421228.html |title=Ruddock names new High Court judge|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=2007-08-13|accessdate=2007-08-13]

Kiefel's nomination was met with support from the Australian Bar Association, amidst criticism of the lack of consultation by the Australian government. [cite news | last=Karvelas | first=Patricia | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22240944-601,00.html | title=Kiefel will make High Court history | publisher=The Australian | date=2007-08-14 | accessdate=2007-08-15] She is considered a conservative "black letter" judge.

Under the Australian Constitution Kiefel must retire at the age of 70. Her appointment at such a relatively young age marks a generation change in the court, as she is eligible to remain seated on the bench until 2024, outlasting all of the bench at the time of her appointment by nine years. [cite news | last=Waterford | first=Jack | url=http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=your+say&subclass=general&story_id=1037328&category=opinion | title=A judge with time on her side | publisher=The Canberra Times | date=2007-08-15 | accessdate=2007-08-15]

Personal life

While at Wolfson College she met her future husband, Michael Albrecht, a social anthropologist, when she became a member of the College rowing crew and Albrecht was her coach. [cite news|url=http://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/2007/08/15/the-hon-justice-susan-kiefel-appointed-to-australian-high-court/ | title=The Hon Justice Susan Kiefel appointed to Australian High Court|publisher=Wolfson College News|date=2007-08-15|accessdate=2007-08-18]

References

Persondata
NAME = Kiefel, Susan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Kiefel, Susan Mary
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Australian lawyer and judge
DATE OF BIRTH = 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH = Cairns, Queensland, Australia
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =