Kamilaroi woman Justice Louise Taylor was appointed to the ACT Supreme Court on 26 July 2023, as the territory’s sixth judge, making her the first Indigenous Australian woman to be appointed to a Supreme Court. She has been appointed as a resident judge and has made history as it is the first time an Aboriginal woman will hold the prestigious position in the ACT. This will be the second time Justice Taylor makes history as she was also the first Aboriginal woman to be appointed as a Magistrate in the ACT back in 2018. Justice Taylor is an Australian National University alumna who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws degree who has particular interest in women’s issues particularly with regard to family, domestic and sexual violence. She is passionate about the significance of access to justice for women, especially in relation to Aboriginal women and women from marginalised backgrounds.
Justice Taylor has noted that following her experience as a Magistrate, she is hopeful that it has placed her in an excellent position to deal with the workload in the Supreme Court and that she is honoured to have the privilege to serve the community in this way. The ACT Bar Association has commented that Justice Taylor brings an extensive range of experience to the position. She has previously worked as a prosecutor with the Commonwealth and ACT Director of Public Prosecutions and as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the ACT Legal Aid Commission. Justice Taylor has also been the chair of the ACT women’s Legal Centre for 10 years. In the 5 years she served on the ACT Magistrates Court it is noted that she spent her time displaying her expertise in criminal and civil law cases and a commitment to impartiality and fairness.
In 2019 Justice Taylor was awarded Indigenous Alumna of the Year Award from the Australian National University for her contributions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights and access to justice for women. She was inspired to pursue a legal career as she wanted an opportunity to “speak to power with a foundation of knowledge and understanding about the law, in particular as it relates to Aboriginal people”, with her motivation being the chance to contribute to her community. There is no doubt that Justice Taylor’s achievements and recent appointment will inspire many.
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