Stephen Keim, SC is a Brisbane barrister who represented Indian-born doctor Mohamed Haneef in his application for judicial review of a decision to revoke his Australian visa over suspected terror-related activities.
Keim is notable for his strongly principled though controversial actions throughout his successful conduct of the case, coming to public prominence by leaking to Hedley Thomas of The Australian the 142-page transcript of an interview of Haneef by the Australian Federal Police shortly after Haneef had been arrested on 2 July 2007.
[1]Keim's actions drew sharp criticism from then-Prime Minister John Howard and then-Attorney-General Philip Ruddock.
[2] Keim was also the subject of disciplinary complaints brought against him by the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police Mick Keelty, and a Brisbane solicitor, Russell Biddle, for having leaked the transcript.
[6] Keim responded by stating that "whether I was going to be punished, reprimanded, or struck off, I had that inner confidence that it was an honest call that I made at the time and I did the best I could.