Jacqueline Gleeson’s credentials extend well beyond being the daughter of a chief justice who is revered by conservatives.

Murray Gleeson declined to be photographed with his daughter on Wednesday, but issued a typically short statement on behalf of his family: “We are all delighted by her appointment.”
Justice Gleeson’s elevation was welcomed by lawyers across the country, who praised her mastery of a broad range of practice areas and personal skills.
It had been thought that cabinet might prefer a judge with more experience in criminal law the speciality of outgoing Justice Virginia Bell but Justice Gleeson had late support from crucial figures including former prime minister John Howard.
They stressed her credentials extended well beyond being the father of a chief justice who is revered by conservatives. While it had opened some doors, one said it had often been more of a hindrance.
Jacqueline Gleeson with her father Murray after he was appointed to the High Court in 1998. Steven Siewert
“She has suffered from being her father’s daughter more than any man would.”
Justice Gleeson joined the Sydney registry of the Federal Court in April 2014 and Chief Justice James Allsop immediately put her in charge of the commercial and corporations lists.
Unlike the other appointment on Wednesday, Justice Simon Steward, she is not considered a conservative. However, she is regarded as an orthodox judge who won’t indulge in any judicial pyrotechnics something that would have appealed to the government.
Very few of her decisions have been appealed to the High Court, but a finding in favour of Westpac in the superannuation advice case was reversed by the Full Federal Court.
She was also part of the Full Court bench that dismissed the appeal by News Corp against the $2.9 defamation payout for actor Geoffrey Rush over claims of inappropriate behaviour towards a female cast member.
Justice Gleeson was the first judicial appointment of the Abbott government, with then attorney-general George Brandis noting at her swearing-in ceremony that she had “carried the burden of expectation”.
The first of four children, she was named after former US first lady Jacqueline Onassis. Her middle name Sarah is that of her maternal grandmother.
My wellbeing and development was my mothers job and she can justly take credit for any success of mine.
Jacqueline Gleeson, incoming High Court chief justice
After graduating from Sydney University, she worked as a judge’s associate and then as a solicitor for two years until she joined the NSW Bar in 1991.
She became a junior of choice, working with Allsop and other future judges including Arthur Emmett. In 1999, she represented broadcaster Alan Jones another fan at the cash-for-comment inquiry.
However, Justice Gleeson took a career detour in 2000 when she joined the Australian Broadcasting Authority as general counsel. Three years later she became a senior executive lawyer for the Australian Government Solicitor.
She returned to the bar in 2005, joining a floor that included future High Court judge Stephen Gageler. In 2012, she was made a senior counsel, and only two years later she was invited to join the bench.
Close friend Jane Needham said her time away from the bar had helped her carve out her own identity.
“I think the experience she gained was really good for people realising she was a fabulous lawyer in her own right, and not just Murray’s daughter.”
Ms Needham said Justice Gleeson had thrived at the bench “because she is smart, clever and very hard-working. And she put her stamp on the commercial lists”.
“She is also a great person to work with very collegiate.”
Like her father, Justice Gleeson is renowned for a dry sense of humour. It was on show at her swearing-in when she had the audience chuckling at some family references.
“My wellbeing and development was my mothers job and she can justly take credit for any success of mine.
“I will say a few words about my father. He was stern. He articulated his values succinctly: ‘Courtesy costs nothing and yet, if not returned, leaves a person in a position of advantage’. On how to use the telephone: ‘State your message and hang up.’ He deplored ‘insults to the poor’. These included my schoolgirl French excursion to New Caledonia and Easter show bags.”
Justice Gleeson also gave a nod to her heritage, which she said was “a mix of Irish, Scottish and English”.
“That heritage bestowed on me a Catholic sense of morality, aProtestant work ethic and a deep appreciation of wit. Humour is highly valued in my family as an antidote to snobbery, self-indulgence, self-righteousness, pedantry, bullying, in fact all unpleasantness.”