The Hon Justice John Basten: an appreciation

20/04/2022

Personalia

The Hon Justice John Basten reached the statutory retirement age last Thursday and Chief Justice Andrew Bell has penned his appreciation for his Honour's 'outstanding and rarely matched contribution to the community as an appellate judge, barrister, academic, public interest lawyer and champion of Indigenous rights'.

After being sworn-in as a judge of appeal on 2 May 2005, Justice Basten has participated in more than 2100 cases in both the Court of Appeal and the Court of Criminal Appeal. 'This has resulted in a remarkable corpus of work of the highest quality, driven by his Honour's prodigious energy and acute intellect', said Bell CJ.

While noting that 'his Honour has eschewed a formal farewell ceremony', Chief Justice Bell has asked that his appreciation be placed on the public record.

The full text of Chief Justice Bell's appreciation can be downloaded here.