Stephen Gageler | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Chief Justice of Australia | |
| Assumed office 6 November 2023 | |
| Appointed by | David Hurley on theadvice ofAnthony Albanese |
| Preceded by | Susan Kiefel |
| Justice of the High Court of Australia | |
| In office 9 October 2012 – 6 November 2023 | |
| Appointed by | Quentin Bryce on theadvice ofJulia Gillard |
| Preceded by | William Gummow |
| Succeeded by | Robert Beech-Jones |
| Solicitor-General of Australia | |
| In office 1 September 2008 – 9 October 2012 | |
| Preceded by | David Bennett |
| Succeeded by | Justin Gleeson |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1958-07-05)5 July 1958 (age 67) Sandy Hollow,New South Wales, Australia |
| Spouse | Carla |
| Children | 3 (1 daughter, 2 sons) |
| Education | Australian National University (BEcon,LLB) Harvard University (LLM) |
| Occupation | Judge, barrister |
Stephen John Gageler (/ɡeɪɡlər/;[1][2] born 5 July 1958) is an Australian judge and formerbarrister. He has been aJustice of theHigh Court of Australia since 2012 and was appointedChief Justice of Australia in 2023. He previously served asSolicitor-General of Australia from 2008 to 2012. He is a graduate of theAustralian National University andHarvard Law School and was a barrister in private practice before his appointment as solicitor-general.
Gageler was born and raised inSandy Hollow, New South Wales, where his father, John, and grandfather, Clive, weresawmillers operating his grandfather's company.[3][4]
Gageler was influenced to become a lawyer by meetingBryan Beaumont, at the time the owner of a property near Gageler's boyhood home, who later became a judge of theFederal Court of Australia.[3]
Gageler's primary school education was at a one-teacher school, Giant's Creek Primary School, about 3 km from Sandy Hollow. His secondary education was atMuswellbrook High School. He graduated from theAustralian National University with a Bachelor of Economics in 1980[5] and aBachelor of Laws with First Class Honours in 1982. He resided atBruce Hall, the university's oldest residential college, in his third year, and atUrsula Hall for his first two.[5] He became an associate for High Court Justice SirAnthony Mason.[3] He then attendedHarvard Law School on a Fulbright scholarship,[6] graduating with aMaster of Laws degree in 1987.
Upon return fromHarvard Law School, Gageler was called to the bar in Sydney where, for 20 years, he worked as a barrister specialising in constitutional, administrative, revenue and commercial law.[4] He was made aSenior Counsel in 2000.[5] Gageler represented, among others,Betfair, theHumane Society, theACT Government, andJohn Howard (thePrime Minister of Australia).[3] Gageler was assistant counsel for the Commercial Radio Enquiry in 1999.[7]
Gageler was appointed theSolicitor-General of Australia on 1 September 2008,[5] based inCanberra, Australian Capital Territory. This position is the second law officer of the Commonwealth, advising the Government and appearing as counsel in significant cases.
Gageler defended the Commonwealth unsuccessfully in theMalaysian solution challenge and successfully in the tobaccoplain packaging cases in 2012.
Gageler's appointment as a Justice of theHigh Court of Australia was announced on 21 August 2012 by theAttorney-General of Australia,Nicola Roxon, for whom Gageler had worked asSolicitor-General of Australia since 2008. Roxon announced that Gageler would replace JusticeWilliam Gummow on his retirement in October 2012.[8]
Gageler is the second solicitor-general to be appointed to the High Court, afterAnthony Mason's appointment in 1972, and the first to be appointed directly to the court with no prior judicial experience – Mason had previously served on theSupreme Court of New South Wales.
On 22 August 2023 the Federal Government announced that Gageler would succeed Susan Kiefel as Chief Justice of the High Court upon her retirement at the end of the year.[9]
Gageler's likeness appears in a painting from 2003 that was commissioned to mark the Court's centenary. The painting depicts the High Court sitting on Tuesday 29 April 2003 to hear the casePurvis v State of New South Wales[2003] HCA 62. The artist,Robert Hannaford, painted the Full Bench (seven member) hearing. Gageler was arguing the case for the appellant and is shown standing at the lectern addressing the court.[10]
Gageler met his wife, Carla, while at theANU. They have a daughter and two sons. The family attends aRoman Catholic church, through the influence of Carla, although Gageler considers himself anAnglican.[3]
Gageler has ablack belt intaekwondo, a sport that he took up in his early 40s after seeing his sons training. He took three years to attain the black belt. He trains several times a week.[3]
In 2017 Gageler was appointed aCompanion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the law and to the judiciary through contributions in the areas of constitutional, public, international, common and criminal law, to legal reform, education and academic discourse, and to professional organisations.[11]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Solicitor-General of Australia 2008–2012 | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Chief Justice of Australia 2023–present | Incumbent |