Justice Kirby - What it is like being on the High Court of Australia

On Monday 29 July 2024, the Centre for Law and Social Justice hosted The Hon. Michael Kirby for a public lecture titled, 'What it is like being on the High Court of Australia' at Newcastle City Hall.

The lecture provided an insider perspective on Justice Kirby's time on the bench and the cases which had the most profound impact on his perspectives of justice and human rights. Audience members were taken on a journey which followed his early life as a lawyer leading workers compensation cases, to his reflections on his appointment to the High Court of Australia. The University of Newcastle Law Students’ Association (UNLSA) convened a Q&A following the public lecture, chaired by Sophie O’Brien, Equity & Education Vice-President (UNLSA). During the Q&A Justice Kirby reflected on cases and decisions which impacted his judicial career, the role that global institutions play in promoting and enforcing human rights, and how the concept of justice has evolved over time – including the identification of future challenges that jurists, lawyers, and advocates may face.