Hidden depths: diversity, difference and the High Court of Australia

There is a growing international emphasis on the importance of diversity in the judiciary and the impact of the individual in decision-making. However, it can be a challenge to gain insight into the individuals who sit on the bench. For instance, there is limited official information about the indiv...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of law in context 2021-12, Vol.17 (4), p.494-511
Main Authors: Cahill-O'Callaghan, Rachel, Roberts, Heather
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Appointments & personnel changes
Attitudes
Attorneys general
Australia. High Court
Bar associations
Biography
Demographics
Diversity in the workplace
Gender
Judges
Judges & magistrates
Judicial appointments
Multiculturalism & pluralism
Narratives
Personality
Personality traits
Psychology
Selection and appointment
Speeches
Workplace diversity
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Summary:There is a growing international emphasis on the importance of diversity in the judiciary and the impact of the individual in decision-making. However, it can be a challenge to gain insight into the individuals who sit on the bench. For instance, there is limited official information about the individuals who sit on the High Court of Australia. One of the rare glimpses provided by the justices themselves is their judicial swearing-in speech. Drawing on a case-study of the swearing-in speeches of High Court justices sitting between 2008 and 2016, this paper illustrates how these speeches can illuminate key demographic information about the judiciary, as well as facets of the individual rarely explored in studies of judicial diversity: personality and values. This study demonstrates how swearing-in speeches can assist with filling information gaps about judicial diversity, and so extend debates about judicial selection.
ISSN:1744-5523
1744-5531
DOI:10.1017/S1744552321000471