The High Court of Australia is the apex court of the Australian legal system, established under the Judiciary Act 1903 and exercising both original and appellate jurisdiction as the country's final court of appeal. It hears appeals from the state and territory supreme courts and from federal courts, with its jurisdiction rooted in Chapter III of the Australian Constitution, and has sat in Canberra since 1980. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Founding Year Founded Date Jurisdiction ScopeExercises both original and appellate jurisdiction as Australia's final court of appeal, hearing appeals from state and territory supreme courts and federal courts, with jurisdiction derived from Chapter III of the Australian Constitution. 1 Jurisdiction Scope
Jurisdiction Scope (category) Jurisdiction Scope (category) FAQs
How was the High Court of Australia established?
By the Judiciary Act 1903, passed on 25 August 1903.
The Judiciary Act 1903 was passed on 25 August 1903, and the first three justices were appointed on 5 October of that year. The Court has sat in Canberra since 1980.
What cases does the High Court of Australia hear?
Original jurisdiction, plus final appeals from state, territory and federal courts.
It exercises both original and appellate jurisdiction as Australia's final court of appeal, hearing appeals from state and territory supreme courts and from federal courts. Its jurisdiction derives from Chapter III of the Australian Constitution.
Connections
Associated With
Justice of the High Court of Australia since 1 March 2021.
Source Jacqueline Gleeson (Wikipedia)
Justice of the High Court of Australia since 30 January 2017.
Source James Edelman (Wikipedia)
Sworn in as a Justice of the High Court of Australia on 17 October 2022.
Source Jayne Jagot (Wikipedia)
Sworn in as a Justice of the High Court of Australia on 9 June 2015.
Source Michelle Gordon (Wikipedia)
Term as Justice of the High Court of Australia began 1 December 2020.
Source Simon Steward (Wikipedia)
Appointed to replace Justice William Gummow on his October 2012 retirement; elevated to Chief Justice in 2023.
Source Stephen Gageler (Wikipedia)
Decided
Decided by the High Court of Australia, 1992.
Source Commonwealth v Tasmania (Wikipedia)
Source Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (Wikipedia)
Has Member
Source William Gummow (Wikipedia)
Source Wikidata: William Owen
Additional Source William Owen (judge, born 1899) (Wikipedia)Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Source List of justices of the High Court of Australia (Wikipedia)
Showing 51 to 53 of 53 in Has Member, page 2 of 2.
In Legal System
Australia is a common law country whose High Court sits atop a federal system of state and territory common law jurisdictions.
Source High Court of Australia (Wikipedia)
Long-Form Articles
In the Other Atlases
Located In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is located.
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Source High Court of Australia (Wikipedia)tier 2
Sources
1. High Court of Australia (Wikipedia)
WikipediaFounding and seat description - entity-description
the apex court of the Australian legal system
Formation of the court section
The Judiciary Act 1903 was finally passed on 25 August 1903, and the first three justices, Chief Justice Sir Samuel Griffith and justices Sir Edmund Barton and Richard O'Connor, were appointed on 5 October of that year.
- In Category: Courts, Category placement - in-category
- In Legal System: Common Law, Founding section - in-legal-system
In Group: Final Appeal Courts, lead paragraph, states the court's place in the hierarchy (final)
The High Court of Australia is the apex court of the Australian legal system.
View the Source Wikidata: High Court of Australia
Wikidata Q1358798, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Commonwealth v Tasmania (Wikipedia)
WikipediaDecided: Commonwealth v Tasmania, Lead paragraph - decided-byView the Source James Edelman (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: James Edelman, lead paragraph, first sentenceQuote, Associated With: James Edelman, lead paragraph, first sentence
James Joshua Edelman (born 9 January 1974) has been a justice of the High Court of Australia since 30 January 2017, and is a former justice of the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Simon Steward (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Simon Steward, Judicial career section
His term began on 1 December 2020 following the compulsory retirement of Nettle.
Has Member: Simon Steward, Lead section
Simon Harry Peter Steward (born 9 January 1969) is an Australian judge and former barrister currently serving as a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
View the Source Jacqueline Gleeson (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Jacqueline Gleeson, lead paragraph, first sentenceQuote, Associated With: Jacqueline Gleeson, lead paragraph, first sentence
Jacqueline Sarah Gleeson (born 7 March 1966) is an Australian jurist. She has been a Justice of the High Court of Australia since 1 March 2021, and was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, based in Sydney, from April 2014 to February 2021.
Michelle Gordon (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Michelle Gordon, Judicial career sectionQuote, Associated With: Michelle Gordon, Judicial career section
Justice Gordon was sworn in on 9 June 2015.
Jayne Jagot (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Jayne Jagot, High Court sectionQuote, Associated With: Jayne Jagot, High Court section
On 17 October 2022, Jagot was sworn in as a Justice of the High Court of Australia, replacing the retiring Justice Patrick Keane.
Stephen Gageler (Wikipedia)
WikipediaAssociated With: Stephen Gageler, High Court of Australia section
Roxon announced that Gageler would replace Justice William Gummow on his retirement in October 2012.
Has Member: Stephen Gageler, Infobox
Justice of the High Court of Australia
View the Source Gerard Brennan (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributorsHas Member: Gerard Brennan, Career sectionQuote, Has Member: Gerard Brennan, Career section
As a High Court judge, Brennan wrote the lead judgement on the Mabo decision, which overturned the doctrine of terra nullius used to justify the Crown's sovereignty over Australia, replacing it with the doctrine of native title, and thus protecting Aboriginal people's claims to land.
Michelle Gordon (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Michelle Gordon, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Michelle Gordon, Lead section
Michelle Marjorie Gordon (born 19 November 1964) is a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Mary Gaudron (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Mary Gaudron, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Mary Gaudron, Introduction
Mary Genevieve Gaudron (5 January 1943 - 13 September 2026) was an Australian lawyer and judge who was the first female Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Robert French (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Robert French, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Robert French, Lead section
Robert Shenton French (born 1947) is a former judge of the Federal Court of Australia and was Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 2008 to 2017.
Edmund Barton (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Edmund Barton, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Edmund Barton, Lead section
He held office as the leader of the Protectionist Party, before resigning in 1903 to become a founding justice of the High Court of Australia, on which he served until his death in 1920.
Charles Powers (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Charles Powers, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Charles Powers, Introduction
Sir Charles Powers (3 March 1853 - 24 April 1939) was an Australian politician and judge who served as Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1913 to 1929.
Albert Piddington (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Albert Piddington, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Albert Piddington, Lead section
He was a member of the High Court of Australia for one month in 1913, making him the shortest-serving judge in the court's history.
George Rich (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: George Rich, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: George Rich, Introduction
Sir George Edward Rich (3 May 1863 - 14 May 1956) was an Australian lawyer and judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1913 to 1950.
Hayden Starke (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Hayden Starke, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Hayden Starke, Introduction
Sir Hayden Erskine Starke (22 February 1871 - 14 May 1958) was an Australian judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1920 to 1950.
H. V. Evatt (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: H. V. Evatt, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: H. V. Evatt, Lead section
He served as a justice of the High Court of Australia from 1930 to 1940, Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs from 1941 to 1949, and leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and Leader of the Opposition from 1951 to 1960.
Wilfred Fullagar (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Wilfred Fullagar, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Wilfred Fullagar, Introduction
Sir Wilfred Kelsham Fullagar (16 November 1892 - 9 July 1961) was an Australian judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1950 until his death in 1961.
Frank Kitto (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Frank Kitto, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Frank Kitto, Lead section
Sir Frank Walters Kitto (30 July 1903-15 February 1994), Australian judge, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Douglas Menzies (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Douglas Menzies, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Douglas Menzies, Introduction
Sir Douglas Ian Menzies (7 September 1907 - 29 November 1974) was an Australian judge, serving as a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Victor Windeyer (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Victor Windeyer, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Victor Windeyer, Lead section
Major General Sir William John Victor Windeyer (28 July 1900-23 November 1987) was an Australian judge, soldier, educator, and a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Cyril Walsh (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Cyril Walsh, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Cyril Walsh, Lead section
Sir Cyril Ambrose Walsh (15 June 1909-29 November 1973) was an Australian judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1969 until his death in 1973.
Harry Gibbs (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Harry Gibbs, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Harry Gibbs, Introduction
Sir Harry Talbot Gibbs (7 February 1917 - 25 June 2005) was Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1981 to 1987 after serving as a member of the High Court between 1970 and 1981.
Ninian Stephen (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributorsHas Member: Ninian Stephen, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Ninian Stephen, Lead section
He was previously a justice of the High Court of Australia from 1972 to 1982.
Keith Aickin (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Keith Aickin, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Keith Aickin, Introduction
Sir Keith Arthur Aickin (1 February 1916 - 18 June 1982) was an Australian judge who served on the High Court of Australia from 1976 until his death in 1982.
Ronald Wilson (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Ronald Wilson, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: Ronald Wilson, Introduction
Sir Ronald Darling Wilson (23 August 1922 - 15 July 2005) was a distinguished Australian lawyer, judge and social activist serving on the High Court of Australia between 1979 and 1989 and as the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission between 1990 and 1997.
William Deane (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: William Deane, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: William Deane, Lead section
He was previously a Justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1995, during which time he was one of the judges who decided in favour of Eddie Mabo in the Mabo case.
Daryl Dawson (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Daryl Dawson, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Daryl Dawson, Lead section
Sir Daryl Michael Dawson (born 12 December 1933) is an Australian former judge who served as a justice of the High Court of Australia from 1982 to 1997.
Michael McHugh (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Michael McHugh, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Michael McHugh, Lead section
Michael Hudson McHugh (born 1 November 1935) is a former justice of the High Court of Australia; the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
William Gummow (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: William Gummow, IntroductionQuote, Has Member: William Gummow, Introduction
William Montague Charles Gummow (9 October 1942 - 17 September 2026) was an Australian judge who was a Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Kenneth Hayne (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Kenneth Hayne, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Kenneth Hayne, Lead section
Kenneth Madison Hayne (born 5 June 1945) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Ian Callinan (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Ian Callinan, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Ian Callinan, Lead section
Ian David Francis Callinan (born 1 September 1937) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Dyson Heydon (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Dyson Heydon, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Dyson Heydon, Lead section
John Dyson Heydon (born 1 March 1943) is an Australian former judge and barrister who served on the High Court of Australia from 2003 to 2013 and the New South Wales Court of Appeal from 2000 to 2003, and previously served as Dean of the Sydney Law School.
Susan Crennan (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Susan Crennan, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Susan Crennan, Lead section
Susan Maree Crennan (née Walsh; born 1945) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Virginia Bell (judge) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Virginia Bell, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Virginia Bell, Lead section
She is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy.
Patrick Keane (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Patrick Keane, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Patrick Keane, Lead section
Patrick Anthony Keane (born 26 October 1952) is an Australian judge currently serving as a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal since 6 April 2023, after his retirement as a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Geoffrey Nettle (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Geoffrey Nettle, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Geoffrey Nettle, Lead section
Geoffrey Arthur Akeroyd Nettle (born 2 December 1950) is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia, the highest court in the Australian court hierarchy, who served from 3 February 2015 to 30 November 2020.
Robert Beech-Jones (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Robert Beech-Jones, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Robert Beech-Jones, Lead section
He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in 2023, and previously served as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 2012 to 2023.
Wikipedia: Susan Kiefel
Has Member: Susan Kiefel, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Susan Kiefel, Lead section
She concurrently served on the High Court of Australia from 2007 to 2023, previously being a judge of both the Supreme Court of Queensland and the Federal Court of Australia.
Isaac Isaacs (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Isaac Isaacs, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Isaac Isaacs, Lead section
He had previously served on the High Court of Australia from 1906 to 1931, including as Chief Justice from 1930.
H. B. Higgins (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: H. B. Higgins, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: H. B. Higgins, Lead section
He served on the High Court of Australia from 1906 until his death in 1929, after briefly serving as Attorney-General of Australia in 1904.
Frank Gavan Duffy (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Frank Gavan Duffy, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Frank Gavan Duffy, Lead section
His total service on the High Court of Australia was from 1913 to 1935.
Edward McTiernan (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Edward McTiernan, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Edward McTiernan, Lead section
He served on the High Court of Australia from 1930 to 1976, the longest-serving judge in the court's history.
Wikidata: John Latham
Has Member: John Latham, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaView the Source Wikidata: Kenneth Jacobs
Has Member: Kenneth Jacobs, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaView the Source Wikidata: John Toohey
Has Member: John Toohey, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaView the Source Mabo v Queensland (No 2) (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationDecided: Mabo v Queensland (No 2), Infobox court field: High Court of AustraliaView the Source List of justices of the High Court of Australia (Wikipedia)
- Has Member: Richard O'Connor, Judges listed in the article: Richard O'Connor
- Has Member: William Webb, Judges listed in the article: William Webb
View the SourceSamuel Griffith (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Samuel Griffith, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Samuel Griffith, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Garfield Barwick (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Garfield Barwick, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Garfield Barwick, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Lionel Murphy (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Lionel Murphy, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Lionel Murphy, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Adrian Knox (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Adrian Knox, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Adrian Knox, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Murray Gleeson (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Murray Gleeson, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Murray Gleeson, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Owen Dixon (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Owen Dixon, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Owen Dixon, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
William Owen (judge, born 1899) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: William Owen, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: William Owen, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Anthony Mason (judge) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Anthony Mason, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Anthony Mason, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Michael Kirby (judge) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Michael Kirby, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Michael Kirby, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
Dudley Williams (judge) (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Dudley Williams, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of AustraliaQuote, Has Member: Dudley Williams, Wikipedia category: Justices of the High Court of Australia
Category:Justices of the High Court of Australia
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