Ceremonial Sitting on the Occasion of the Swearing-In of the Honourable Justice Steward

[2020] HCATrans 208

[2020] HCATrans 208

H I G H   C O U R T   O F   A U S T R A L I A

CEREMONIAL SITTING

ON THE OCCASION

OF

THE SWEARING-IN

OF

THE HONOURABLE SIMON HARRY PETER STEWARD

AS A JUSTICE OF THE HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AT

CANBERRA

ON

TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2020, AT 10.00 AM

Coram:

KIEFEL CJ
BELL J
GAGELER J
KEANE J
GORDON J
EDELMAN J

TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS

STEWARD J:   Chief Justice.  I have the honour to announce that I have received a Commission from His Excellency, the Governor‑General of Australia, appointing me a Justice of the High Court of Australia.  I now present my Commission.

KIEFEL CJ:   Principal Registrar, please read aloud the Commission.

PRINCIPAL REGISTRAR:  

Commission of Appointment of a Justice of the High Court of Australia

I, General the Honourable David Hurley AC, DSC, Retired, Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under section 72 of the Constitution and section 5 of the High Court of Australia Act1979, appoint the Honourable Justice Simon Harry Peter Steward, a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, to be a Justice of the High Court of Australia, commencing on 1 December 2020 until he attains the age of 70 years. 

Signed and sealed with the Great Seal of Australia on 28 October 2020.  David Hurley, Governor‑General, By His Excellency’s Command, Christian Porter, Attorney‑General, Minister for Industrial Relations.

KIEFEL CJ:   Justice Steward, I invite you to take the Oath of Allegiance and of Office.

STEWARD J:   I, Simon Harry Peter Steward, do swear that I will bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her Heirs and Successors, according to law, that I will well and truly serve Her in the Office of Justice of the High Court of Australia and that I will do right to all manner of people, according to law without fear or favour, affection or ill‑will.  So help me God.

KIEFEL CJ:   I now invite you to subscribe the Oath of Allegiance and of Office. 

KIEFEL CJ:   Principal Registrar, please place these documents in the records of the Court. 

KIEFEL CJ:   Justice Steward, I invite you to take your seat at the Bench and to proceed to discharge the duties of the office of a Justice of the High Court of Australia. 

KIEFEL CJ:   When Justice Steward’s appointment was announced, there was considerable uncertainty, not only about how he was to be sworn in if COVID‑19 restrictions on movement continued, but also about how the usual ceremony, with many participants, could take place. 

We are grateful that his Honour is able to be sworn in today in Canberra in the presence of his colleagues and his family.  The balance of the ceremony will take place on 1 February next when it is hoped that the dignitaries, including the Attorney‑General, former Justices of this Court, members of the Council of Chief Justices and officers of the Australian and Victorian Bar Association and others will be able to attend.

In the meantime we welcome Justice Steward to the Court and offer our good wishes to him and to his family.

The Court will adjourn until 10.00 am tomorrow.

AT 10.05 AM THE MATTER WAS CONCLUDED