Ceremonial Sitting of the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia to welcome the Honourable Chief Justice Mortimer
Speech delivered by Luke Murphy, President of the Law Council of Australia, Federal Court of Australia, Melbourne, 17 April 2023.
"May it please the Court.
I also respectfully acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional land of the Kulin Nation and I pay my respects to their Elders both past and present, and Elders from other communities who may be here today.
I also acknowledge the Attorney-General, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP; President of the Australian Bar Association, Mr Peter Dunning KC; Ms Tania Wolff, President of the Law Institute of Victoria; Ms Elizabeth Bennett SC, Vice President of the Victorian Bar Association; all judicial officers, dignitaries, family, friends, and, most of all: Chief Justice Mortimer. I am honoured to appear on behalf of the national legal profession to welcome your elevation.
In 2013, Your Honour’s affirmation to office included a promise to “do right to all manner of people according to the law without fear or favour, affection or ill-will”.
Access to justice for all, and whether we achieve it, defines us as a society. As we have heard this morning, and as was emphasised by all who addressed this court in 2013 on the occasion of Your Honour’s swearing in and welcome, access to justice for all is something Your Honour has always embraced with vigour."
Read the full speech below.
Last Updated on 21/07/2023