Justice Louise Taylor has been appointed Chief Magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court, and Acting Justice Andrew Muller SC as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.
Justice Taylor will assume the role of Chief Magistrate in May, while continuing as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court — a position she has held since 2023.
The first Aboriginal woman in Australia to be appointed to a superior court, Justice Taylor was appointed as a Magistrate in 2018. She was Deputy CEO of the ACT Legal Aid Commission and a senior advocate and practice manager at the Office of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions. She also served as Chair of the Women’s Legal Centre (ACT) Board for a decade, and sat on the ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council, the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Women, and the Law Council of Australia’s Indigenous Legal Issues Committee.
Justice Taylor said she was delighted to accept the opportunity.
“The Magistrates Court is the people’s court, the place where many Canberrans experience the justice system. The chance to lead the diverse and increasingly complex work of the Magistrates Court is a great honour. This role is a return to a place where I spent much of my career. I take it on with deep respect for the hard-working court staff and Magistrates who faithfully serve our great city in the administration of justice.
“I look forward to taking my place on the bench in this leadership role, and I am grateful for the confidence in me that this appointment represents.”
Attorney-General Tara Cheyne MLA said: “Justice Taylor has already demonstrated outstanding leadership and capability across both the Magistrates Court and Supreme Court jurisdictions. She returns to lead the Magistrates Court with additional perspective, experience and authority, by which the ACT community will be exceptionally well served.”
Acting Justice Muller will commence as a Resident Judge on Monday 13 April.
He has served as an Acting Judge of the ACT Supreme Court since April 2025. Called to the Bar in 2011 and appointed Senior Counsel in October 2023, he has lived and practised in the ACT for more than 30 years. He served as President of the ACT Bar Association, and is an expert in civil law.
“I look forward to the challenge of supporting the important work of this busy court,” Acting Justice Muller said.
Ms Cheyne said: “Acting Justice Muller brings more than three decades of experience in the ACT legal community, including as a former President of the ACT Bar Association, deep civil law expertise, and a proven judicial record in his acting capacity.”
Expressions of interest will shortly be invited for a further appointment as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.
