By Grace Crivellaro in Canberra

A Canberra judge has made history after becoming the first Aboriginal woman in Australia to be appointed to a superior court.

Proud Kamilaroi woman Justice Louise Taylor will take up her appointment as chief magistrate of the ACT Magistrates Court from May.

Justice Taylor was first appointed as a magistrate in 2018 after serving as a deputy chief executive officer of the ACT Legal Aid Commission and in senior roles at the Office of the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions.

She became a resident judge of the ACT Supreme Court in 2023 and will continue in that role while serving as chief magistrate.

Justice Taylor said she was honoured to accept the role after spending most of her career inside the magistrates court.

“The magistrates court is the people’s court, the place where many Canberrans experience the justice system,” she said in a statement.

“The chance to lead the diverse and increasingly complex work of the magistrates court is a great honour.

“I take (the role) on with deep respect for the hard-working court staff and magistrates who faithfully serve our great city in the administration of justice.”

Justice Taylor worked on the judicial inquiry into the conviction of former public servant David Eastman, who was wrongfully convicted of the murder of Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in 1995, but his conviction was quashed in 2014.

Acting Justice Andrew Muller SC has been appointed a resident judge of the ACT Supreme Court – the next highest-ranking justice beneath the chief justice.

He has worked in the ACT for more than 30 years and will begin his role in April.

“I look forward to the challenge of supporting the important work of this busy court,” he said.