Jun 20, 2026 – 5.00amThis is the story of a divided judiciary, warring egos and the uncertain future of the country’s top court. It ranges from coastal Tasmania to Far North Queensland, and features two of the leading judges of their generation: “Justice Wolverine”, the judicial brother of Hugh Jackman, and “the notorious RBJ”, husband of world-famous playwright Suzie Miller.It centres on two speeches, delivered within a fortnight of one another, dissimilar but also oddly alike. Both contained unusually personal jabs at other law-world personalities – even at other judges. Both were attempts, from the opposite vantage point, to undo the “politicisation” of the law. Both risk utterly backfiring in that aim.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Janek DrevikovskyLegal affairs reporterJanek Drevikovsky is the Financial Review’s legal affairs reporter.Fetching latest articles
Beware the ‘hero judge’: the legal feuds upending the High Court
Two leading judges, two extraordinary speeches – as Hugh Jackman’s brother and “the notorious RBJ” launch a war over how the High Court works and who should run it.
TL;DRAI
Two High Court judges delivered personal attacks on law politicization, revealing deep internal division in Australia's top court. Judicial fragmentation signals governance risk for tech companies: regulatory unpredictability and potential impact on corporate litigation outcomes.
144 words~1 min read
