Ceremonial Sitting - Farewell to the Honourable Justice Callinan - Adelaide

This matter concerns a ceremonial sitting of the High Court of Australia in Adelaide to mark the final sitting of the Honourable Justice Ian Callinan, AC, in that city. The sitting involved remarks from Mr R.J. Whitington, QC, on behalf of the South Australian Bar, paying tribute to Justice Callinan's service. Justice Callinan also made remarks in response.

The legal issues before the Court were not substantive in nature, but rather related to the formal occasion of a Justice's final circuit sitting. The proceedings were a formal acknowledgement of Justice Callinan's distinguished career at the Bar and on the High Court Bench, and his contributions to the law.

The Court's reasoning, as expressed through the remarks of Mr Whitington and Justice Callinan, focused on acknowledging the significance of Justice Callinan's tenure. Mr Whitington highlighted Justice Callinan's broad experience as a "generalist" at the Bar, his involvement in various significant cases, his leadership roles in bar associations, and his literary achievements. Justice Callinan reflected on his time on the Bench, his appreciation for the Court's circuit sittings, and his personal connections to Adelaide. The underlying principle was the recognition and celebration of a judicial career at the highest level of the Australian legal system.