Louise Taylor, a long-time Canberra resident and ACT Magistrate, will be the first Aboriginal Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court.
Ms Taylor has been a magistrate of the ACT since 2018, when she became the first Aboriginal judicial officer in the ACT.
A solicitor and barrister since 2001, she worked as a prosecutor with both the ACT and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, then as a defence lawyer. She was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Legal Aid ACT in 2014, and chaired the Women’s Legal Centre ACT for a decade, the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council on Women, and the ACT Domestic Violence Prevention Council. She was also a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Indigenous Legal Issues Committee and an Associate of the Indigenous Law Centre at the University of New South Wales.
In announcing the appointment, Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said: “Magistrate Taylor brings to the Supreme Court a wealth of knowledge and expertise, having represented the most vulnerable members of our community in complex matters.
“Having served on the ACT Magistrates Court since 2018, Magistrate Taylor has spent the past five years exhibiting her proficiency in both civil and criminal law matters, displaying a commitment to fairness, impartiality, and open-mindedness.
“Her background as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of ACT Legal Aid, together with her roles with the ACT and Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, further accentuate her exceptional expertise and knowledge of the legal system.
“As a proud Kamilaroi woman, her appointmentalso marks a significant and important milestone – it is the first time in the Supreme Court’s history that a Aboriginal woman will hold such a prestigious position in the ACT.”
Chief Justice Lucy McCallum looks forward to welcoming Magistrate Taylor to the Supreme Court.
“I have no doubt that Louise’s dedication to upholding the rule of law, combined with her invaluable experience, will contribute to the continued delivery of justice in our community.
“It is pleasing to welcome her to the Supreme Court as a long-time Canberran and as the first Aboriginal Resident Judge in this jurisdiction.
“The ACT Supreme Court is committed to fostering an inclusive and representative judiciary that reflects the diversity of the community it serves, so we look forward very much to serving alongside Magistrate Taylor.”
The appointment will bring to six the number of Resident Supreme Court judges in the ACT.
