Ceremonial Sitting - On the Occasion of the Retirement of the Chief Justice, the Honourable Susan Mary Kiefel

This matter concerns a ceremonial sitting of the High Court of Australia held on Monday, 16 October 2023, to mark the retirement of the Chief Justice, the Honourable Susan Mary Kiefel AC. The sitting was attended by a distinguished assembly of current and former members of the High Court, Chief Justices of other Australian courts, other members of the judiciary, parliamentary representatives, and leaders of the legal profession. The primary purpose of the occasion was to formally acknowledge and celebrate the tenure of Chief Justice Kiefel.

The proceedings did not involve the determination of a legal dispute between parties in the conventional sense. Instead, the sitting was dedicated to tributes and addresses honouring the contributions of Chief Justice Kiefel. The Attorney-General for the Commonwealth, the Honourable Mark Dreyfus KC MP, delivered the opening remarks, which included an acknowledgement of the traditional custodians of the land.

The substance of the occasion was ceremonial, involving speeches and expressions of respect for the retiring Chief Justice. The legal principles and reasoning typically found in judgments were not applicable here, as the event was a formal recognition of service and leadership within the Australian judiciary. The proceedings concluded with the formal acknowledgement of Chief Justice Kiefel's retirement.