Bellâs exit makes High Court history Save Share With the retirement of Justice Virginia Bell this week, history will be made. For the first time since the High Court was formed in 1903, none of its judges will have come directly from a state court. Some say it is a bad sign for federalism â it is, after all, the final court for the states â and a crucial area of the High Courtâs work, criminal law. Justice Virginia Bellâs retirement will leave the court short on criminal law expertise â and state judges. Gillianne Tedder Bell served on the NSW Supreme Court and NSW Court of Appeal for 10 years before she joined the court in 2009. She is being replaced by Federal Court judge Jacqueline Gleeson, who will be sworn in at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday.