McGinn v High Court of Australia

[2025] FCA 794

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

McGinn v High Court of Australia [2025] FCA 794    

File number(s):	NSD 544 of 2025
Judgment of:	JACKMAN J
Date of judgment:	3 July 2025
Catchwords:	PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for disqualification – application dismissed
Division:	General Division
Registry:	New South Wales
National Practice Area:	Administrative and Constitutional Law and Human Rights
Number of paragraphs:	2
Date of hearing:	3 July 2025
Counsel for the Applicant:	The Applicant was a litigant-in-person

 

ORDERS

NSD 544 of 2025

BETWEEN:

SOPHIA MCGINN

Applicant

AND:

HIGH COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Respondent

ORDER MADE BY:	JACKMAN J
DATE OF ORDER:	3 JULY 2025

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.The application for disqualification be dismissed.

Note:   Entry of orders is dealt with in Rule 39.32 of the Federal Court Rules 2011.

REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
Delivered ex tempore, revised from transcript

JACKMAN J:

1. In matter NSD544/2025, the applicant, again, applies for my disqualification on the ground of actual bias.  The applicant reiterates the five submissions which she made in NSD577/2025. 

2. Further, the applicant submits that I will not bring a fresh mind to bear on this matter in light of the decision which I made earlier today in NSD1867/2024.  I do not see that those matters can conceivably amount to actual bias on my part and I reject the application for my disqualification. 

I certify that the preceding two (2) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment of the Honourable Justice Jackman.

Associate:

Dated:       11 July 2025