Supreme Court of the United Cygnian States | |
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Coat of arms of Cygnia | |
Established | 27 September 1793 (228 years ago) |
Country | |
Location | Northam, TS |
Motto | Fiat justitia ruat caelum (Latin: Let justice be done though the heavens fall) |
Composition method | Presidential appointment upon cancellarial nomination on advice of Attorney-General and Cabinet |
Authorized by | Constitution of Cygnia |
Judge term length | Until age of 70 years |
Number of positions | 7 by statute |
Website | www.supremecourt.gov |
Chief Justice of Cygnia | |
Currently | Stephen Gageler |
Since | 8 March 2021 (1 years ago) |

The Supreme Court Building in Northam, TS
The Supreme Court of the United Cygnian States is the highest federal court of Cygnia. Established pursuant to Article III of the Cygnian Constitution in 1793, it has ultimate (and largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all federal courts and over state court cases involving issues of federal law, plus original jurisdiction over a small range of cases. In the legal system of Cygnia, the Supreme Court is the final interpreter of federal constitutional law, although it may only act within the context of a case in which it has jurisdiction.
The Court normally consists of the Chief Justice of Cygnia and six associate justices who are nominated by the Chancellor on the advice of the Attorney-General and appointed by the President. Once appointed, justices serve until they resign, retire, or are removed after impeachment (though no justice has ever been removed). Retirement is mandatory at the age of 70. In modern discourse, the justices are often categorised as having conservative, moderate, or liberal philosophies of law and of judicial interpretation. Each justice has one vote, and while many cases are decided unanimously, the highest profile cases often expose ideological beliefs that track with those philosophical or political categories. The Court meets in the Cygnian Supreme Court Building in Northam, TS.
Current composition
Name | Home state | Date appointed | Mandatory retirement | Nominating Chancellor | Previous postings | Education |
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Stephen Gageler CC | NA | 9 October 2012 (as Justice) 8 March 2021 (as Chief Justice) |
5 July 2028 | Julia Gillard (L) (as Justice) Anthony Albanese (L) (as Chief Justice) |
Solicitor-General of Cygnia | Cygnian National University |
Susan Kiefel CC | NZ | 4 September 2007 | 17 January 2024 | John Howard (N) | Supreme Court of New Zealand Federal Court of Cygnia |
University of Cambridge |
James Edelman CC | CA | 1 March 2013 | 9 January 2044 | Tony Abbott (N) | Supreme Court of Carolina | University of Carolina |
Michelle Gordon CC | VA | 9 June 2015 | 19 November 2034 | Tony Abbott (N) | Federal Court of Cygnia | University of Carolina |
Rene Le Miere | CA | 30 January 2017 | 18 February 2022 | Julia Gillard (L) | Supreme Court of Carolina | University of Carolina |
Debra Mortimer | AO | 1 December 2020 | 6 October 2030 | Julia Gillard (L) | Federal Court of Cygnia | Monash University University of Auckland |
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