Stephen Gageler

Stephen John Gageler (; ) is an Australian barrister. He has been a Justice of the High Court of Australia since 2012 and was appointed Chief Justice of Australia in 2023. He previously served as Solicitor-General of Australia from 2008 to 2012. He is a graduate of the Australian National University and Harvard Law School and was a barrister in private practice before his appointment as solicitor-general.

Early life and education Stephen John Gageler was born and raised in the small community of Sandy Hollow, New South Wales, where his father, John, and grandfather, Clive, were sawmillers operating his grandfather's company.

His interest in law was sparked during a stint of work experience in a solicitor's office in year 9, when he also attended local Magistrates Court. The solicitor referred him to barrister Bryan Beaumont, graduating with a Master of Laws degree in 1987.

Legal career Upon return from Harvard Law School, Gageler was called to the bar in Sydney where, for 20 years, he worked as a barrister specialising in constitutional, administrative, revenue and commercial law. Gageler represented, among others, Betfair, the Humane Society, the ACT Government, and John Howard (the Prime Minister of Australia).

Solicitor-General Gageler was appointed the Solicitor-General of Australia on 1 September 2008,

Gageler is the second solicitor-general to be appointed to the High Court, after Anthony Mason's appointment in 1972, and the first to be appointed directly to the court with no prior judicial experience – Mason had previously served on the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

On 22 August 2023 the Federal Government announced that Gageler would succeed Susan Kiefel as the 14th Chief Justice of the High Court upon her retirement at the end of the year.

In 2017 Gageler was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the law and to the judiciary through contributions in the areas of constitutional, public, international, common and criminal law, to legal reform, education and academic discourse, and to professional organisations.

Personal life Gageler met his wife, Carla, while at ANU. They have a daughter and two sons. The family attends a Roman Catholic church, through the influence of Carla, although Gageler considers himself an Anglican.