Justice Louise Taylor named ACT Chief Magistrate in milestone for Aboriginal judicial leadership

Justice Louise Taylor, a proud Kamilaroi woman and Australia’s first Aboriginal woman appointed to a superior court, has been appointed Chief Magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court and will begin in the role in May.

The ACT Government announced the appointment, alongside the appointment of Acting Justice Andrew Muller SC as a Resident Judge of the ACT Supreme Court. Justice Taylor will retain her commission as a judge of the Supreme Court while taking on the chief magistrate role.

Attorney-General Tara Cheyne said the new leadership came “at an important time for our courts”, describing the appointments as bringing “experience, expertise and fresh leadership”.

Justice Taylor was appointed as a Magistrate in 2018 and became a Resident Judge of the Supreme Court in 2023. Before joining the bench, she held senior roles in the territory’s legal services, including as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the ACT Legal Aid Commission and as a prosecutor and practice manager in the Office of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions.

In the government’s statement, Justice Taylor highlighted the community‑facing role of the court she will lead. “The Magistrates Court is the people’s court” she said, describing it as the place where many Canberrans first encounter the justice system.

The appointment has been widely welcomed within the legal profession. In a message shared by the Australian National University’s law school, ACT Bar Council president Prue Bindon said Justice Taylor’s “leadership, judicial temperament, and standing within the Court and the wider profession” make her “the ideal appointment”.

For First Nations communities and many in the legal sector, the announcement carries weight beyond the day‑to‑day operation of the courts. Indigenous legal organisations have long stressed the importance of representation and cultural understanding in justice settings — particularly in lower courts, where issues like family violence, fines, bail and summary criminal matters can intersect with broader social disadvantage.

Justice Taylor has also been recognised for service outside the courtroom, including work with women’s legal services and advisory bodies focused on violence prevention and equality. Supporters say the combination of judicial experience and community engagement will be central to steering the Magistrates Court through rising complexity and public expectations around access to justice.

Acting Justice Muller, who has served as an acting judge since April 2025, is expected to commence as a Resident Judge on 13 April.