In December 2022, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Cook Islands, replacing Hugh Williams.

[1] Keane was educated at Victoria University of Wellington, graduating with a BA in 1968, and an LLB (Hons) in 1969.

[2] He then worked for as a lawyer for Izard Weston and later as a Crown Solicitor for Rudd Watts and Stone from 1977 to 1979.

[3] In 1987, he was appointed a judge of the District Court of New Zealand and to the Taxation Review Authority.

[4] In the 2017 New Year Honours he was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for services to the judiciary.