List of the first women appointed to Australian judicial positions

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This is a list of the first women judge(s) in Australia. The first court was established in 1788,[1] the first woman to be awarded a Bachelor of Laws degree graduated in 1903,[2] and the first woman barrister was admitted in 1905.[3] It was not until 1965 that the first woman (Roma Mitchell) was appointed to an Australian judicial position.[4] These pioneering Australians have been described as members of the FW2 club or First Woman to club.[5] The list includes positions to which no woman has been appointed as of March 2022. It does not include abolished courts to which no woman was appointed, such as the Commonwealth Industrial Court.

For a list of the first women lawyers see list of first women lawyers (Australia)

More information Jurisdiction, first woman to be appointed ...
Jurisdiction first woman to be appointed Name Date Comments Notes
CommonwealthChief Justice of AustraliaSusan Kiefel31 January 2017[6]
Justice of the High CourtMary Gaudron6 February 1987[7]
Chief Justice of the Federal CourtDebra Mortimer7 April 2023[8]
Judge of the Federal CourtDeirdre O'Connor1 July 1990[9]
President of the Australian Administrative Appeals TribunalDeirdre O'Connor1 July 1990[10]
Presidents of the Australian Industrial Relations CommissionDeirdre O'Connor1 March 1994[10]
Chief Justice of the Family Court[a]Elizabeth Evatt11 November 1976[11]
Judge of the Family CourtElizabeth Evatt11 November 1976[11]
Chief Federal Magistrate [a]Diana Bryant11 May 2000 [12]
Federal MagistrateNorah Hartnett
Christine Mead
Judy Ryan		28 June 2000 [13]
NSWChief Justice
President of the Court of AppealMargaret Beazley1 March 2013[14]
Judge of AppealMargaret Beazley29 April 1996[14]
Judge of the Supreme CourtJane Mathews7 July 1987[15]
Chief Judge of the Land & Environment CourtMahla Pearlman6 April 1992[16]
Judge of the Land & Environment CourtMahla Pearlman6 April 1992[16]
Judge of the Industrial CourtLeonie Glynn14 April 1980[17]
Chief Judge of the District CourtSarah Huggett29 April 2024[18]
Judge of the District CourtJane Mathews1980[15]
VictoriaChief JusticeMarilyn Warren25 November 2003[19]
President of the Court of AppealKarin Emerton21 June 2022[20]
Judge of the Court of AppealSusan Kenny25 July 1997[21]
Supreme CourtRosemary Balmford6 March 1996[22]
Chief Judge of the County Court
Judge of the County CourtLynette Schiftan1985[23]
QueenslandChief JusticeCatherine Holmes11 September 2015[24]
President of the Court of AppealMargaret McMurdo30 July 1998[25]
Judge of the Supreme CourtMargaret White2 April 1992[26]
Chief Judge of the District CourtPatsy Wolfe1999[27]
Judge of the District CourtMargaret McMurdo29 January 1991[25]
South AustraliaChief Justice
Judge of the Supreme CourtRoma Mitchell23 September 1965[4]
Chief Judge of the District Court
Judge of the District CourtKemeri Murray1973[28]
Chief MagistrateElizabeth BoltonFebruary 2007[29]
TasmaniaChief Justice
Supreme CourtShan Tennent15 March 2005[30]
Western AustraliaChief Justice
President Court of AppealCarmel McLureNovember 2009[31]
Judge of the Supreme CourtChristine Wheeler30 October 1996[32]
Chief Judge of the Family CourtGail Sutherland7 January 2019[33]
Family Court Elizabeth Evatt 5 January 1976 [34]
Chief Judge of the District CourtAntoinette Kennedy1 January 2004[35]
Judge of the District CourtAntoinette Kennedy15 March 1985[36]
ACTChief JusticeHelen Murrell28 October 2013[37]
Additional judge of the Supreme CourtMargaret Beazley22 June 1994[14]
Resident judge of the Supreme CourtHilary Penfold1 February 2008[38]
Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker 13 October 2011 [39]
Magistrate Karen Fryar 6 September 1993 [40]
NTChief Justice
Supreme CourtSally Thomas30 July 1992[41]
Norfolk IslandChief Justice
Supreme CourtSusan Kiefel16 December 2004
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