Fed: Bell to bring social conscience to High Court - McClelland

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2008
Fed: Bell to bring social conscience to High Court - McClelland

Federal Attorney-General ROBERT MCCLELLAND says Australia's newest High Court judge
will bring a social conscience with her to the bench.

Federal cabinet has recommended the appointment of New South Wales Supreme Court judge
VIRGINIA MARGARET BELL to take the place of retiring High Court judge MICHAEL KIRBY from
February 3.

The decision has been welcomed across the board as redressing a lack of criminal law
expertise on the bench of Australia's superior court .. and as going some way towards
correcting the gender imbalance.

The appointment of the Sydney University law graduate .. who has grass roots legal
experience .. will reshape the composition of the High Court bench .. which will feature
three women and four men for the first time.

HUGH MACKEN .. the president of the Law Society of New South Wales .. says the news
will be welcomed by lawyers around Australia.

CHERYL SAUNDERS .. a professor of constitutional law at Melbourne University .. said
it's hard to tell what the impact of the critical mass of women on the bench will be ..

while Opposition legal affairs spokesman GEORGE BRANDIS has also welcomed the decision.

AAP RTV keh/kms/wz/psm/

KEYWORD: BELL (CANBERRA)

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