Uploaded June 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Requiring High Court Judges to retire at 70: a sensible referendum vote or a big mistake?
An evening with the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN — 29 May 2024 (from Charles Sturt University)
"Requiring High Court Judges to retire at 70: a sensible referendum vote or a big mistake?"
The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN
Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
This recording of this lecture was kindly made available to the Royal Society of NSW by Charles Sturt University.
The presentation commences at 03:32
Timing Marks:
00:00:00 Introduction to the Speaker: Professor Graham Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Charles Sturt University
00:03:52 Presentation: The. Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN
00:47:16 Audience Q&A: moderated by Professor Mark Nolan, Director, Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University
01:18:09 Vote of Thanks: Professor Mark Nolan
01:19:31 Meeting Close
Summary: In 1977, the Australian electors voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to repeal life tenure for High Court and other federal judges, and to require them to retire by their 70th birthdays. Recently, some public comment has suggested that this was an unwise move, resulting in a loss of talent and shorter terms of service.
Invoking the dangers it has caused the American people and the Supreme Court of the United States, Michael Kirby will explain why he thinks life tenure is a mistake. And with reference to his own very busy life after retiring from the judiciary system in 2009 – including chairing international arbitrations, presiding over U.N. commissions of inquiry on human rights, and upholding the necessity of generational change in the judiciary system – he explains why he voted for the constitutional change and still supports its wisdom.
Requiring High Court Judges to retire at 70: a sensible referendum vote or a big mistake?
An evening with the Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN — 29 May 2024 (from Charles Sturt University)
"Requiring High Court Judges to retire at 70: a sensible referendum vote or a big mistake?"
The Hon. Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN
Former Justice of the High Court of Australia
This recording of this lecture was kindly made available to the Royal Society of NSW by Charles Sturt University.
The presentation commences at 03:32
Timing Marks:
00:00:00 Introduction to the Speaker: Professor Graham Brown, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Charles Sturt University
00:03:52 Presentation: The. Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG FRSN
00:47:16 Audience Q&A: moderated by Professor Mark Nolan, Director, Centre for Law and Justice, Charles Sturt University
01:18:09 Vote of Thanks: Professor Mark Nolan
01:19:31 Meeting Close
Summary: In 1977, the Australian electors voted overwhelmingly to amend the Constitution to repeal life tenure for High Court and other federal judges, and to require them to retire by their 70th birthdays. Recently, some public comment has suggested that this was an unwise move, resulting in a loss of talent and shorter terms of service.
Invoking the dangers it has caused the American people and the Supreme Court of the United States, Michael Kirby will explain why he thinks life tenure is a mistake. And with reference to his own very busy life after retiring from the judiciary system in 2009 – including chairing international arbitrations, presiding over U.N. commissions of inquiry on human rights, and upholding the necessity of generational change in the judiciary system – he explains why he voted for the constitutional change and still supports its wisdom.
