HIGH COURT WELCOMES VIRGINIA BELL

By Toby Longhurst

New South Wales Judge and LGBT activist Virginia Bell has been sworn in as a High Court Judge at a ceremony in Canberra, becoming the third female member of the seven person panel.

Justice Bell was welcomed to the High Court Bench after being offered an important piece of advice from her predecessor, the retiring Justice Michael Kirby, who reminded her to never forget “the little people”. Though it is unlikely she ever would.

After beginning her career as a volunteer at the Redfern Legal Centre, Justice Bell has built a reputation for her committed community work and activism for LGBTI and women’s rights as well as other human rights issues through years of private practice and serving as an Appeals Judge on the New South Wales Supreme Court. As a young lawyer in 1978, Justice Bell represented 58 people arrested in the first Mardi Gras March, before preparing a video for the 1979 march, advising participants of their rights and how to avoid being arrested. In her maiden speech as a High Court Judge, Justice Bell spoke of the importance of remembering all members of the community and the daunting prospect of taking a position held by Justice Kirby.

“The experience of life and the practice of the criminal law have taught me that many members of our community don’t have that good luck in life. I have never failed to appreciate it.”

“Some people have suggested, that I should, fill the shoes of the Honourable Michael Kirby. No one person could do that. I have no doubt that Michael Kirby will continue with his remarkable energy and capacity to contribute to the intellectual life of this country and I join in the sentiments of the speakers who farewelled him in this Court yesterday in wishing him happiness and fulfilment in what I expect will continue to be his very full life from today on.”

The previous day, Justice Kirby bade farewell to his colleges at a special sitting of the High Court where he gave thanks to his family and friends before giving a special tribute to his long term partner Johan van Vloten. “On past occasions, when I have come to this point, I have referred to my debt to unnamed ‘loved ones’. My fearless sisters-in-law would always dig my partner Johan van Vloten in the ribs to let him know that this was him. He was on. Well, those times are over. Johan has been a great strength to me during my time on this Court and long before. He has occasionally had to absorb unkind blows without complaint: a steadfast rock throughout all my judicial years. Today, I can thank and praise him publicly. And next week we celebrate 40 years together.”

“I will leave this building tomorrow. But I know that, in the hands of my colleagues and Justice Bell, the vital work of independent judges will go on."