I'm receiving quite a few notes and emails asking my opinion about Justice Patrick Keane's appointment to the High Court.

I know that elsewhere there's some very strong and pointed criticism of the appointment.

I don't share that view and I thought I'd just post this opinion once rather than keep answering blog comments and the like.

His Honour has been to date the Chief Judge of the Federal Court.

He is a jurist of conspicuous distinction and a man of great integrity given to public service.

At the Federal Court he was not in the business of managing the movement of files or visiting the compactus at night.   He was the Chief Judge.  

I imagine that Justice Keane is embarrassed at the attention that the appointment of Judge Bernard Murphy has brought to the Federal Court.

It is out of character for Nicola Roxon and the Gillard Government to appoint a man with so superb a set of credentials to the High Court, so yes Justice Patrick Keane's appointment is a bit of a surprise, but only because of the uncharacteristic good judgment shown by this government.