The federal government has appointed the Chief Justice of the Federal Court, Patrick Keane, to the High Court.
The Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, made the announcement today. Keane will be the 50th person appointed to the High Court.
Keane will replace Justice John Dyson Heydon on March 1 next year. He is the Rudd-Gillard government’s fourth appointment to the seven-member court. He is 60 years old and will serve a maximum ten years on the court.