Law Council of Australia

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Ceremonial Sitting of the Federal Court of Australia to welcome the Honourable Justice Stephen McDonald

Speech delivered by Greg McIntyre SC, President of the Law Council of Australia, Federal Court of Australia in Adelaide, 27 August 2024.
 

"May it please the Court.

I echo the acknowledgement of the Kaurna people. It is a great pleasure to welcome Your Honour on behalf of the legal profession.

Your Honour’s appointment has been warmly embraced and supported by those who have had the privilege of working with you throughout your career. It seems clear you are universally well liked and respected.

While there are many reasons your colleagues feel this way, a few of the attributes that shine through brightly are your huge generosity of spirit, your sense of humour, and your humility – despite so many others predicting throughout your career that you were destined for great things.

When I talk about your generosity, I am talking about your already mentioned enthusiasm for mentoring others. The junior practitioners who have been fortunate to have you in their corner speak of you taking them under your wing, sharing your analytical thought processes and giving them opportunities to learn by ‘doing’.

We heard more than once that you go out of your way to check in on those around you, to enquire about their wellbeing, and ensure they know you are there for them if they need you.

As I understand it, the law is one of Your Honour’s great passions, to the point that you read court rulings for recreation. You have a reputation as an intellectual powerhouse, exemplified in your co-authoring of the text ‘Government Accountability Australian Administrative Law’.

Read the full speech below.

Last Updated on 02/12/2024

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