Mary Gaudron, the first woman to serve as a judge on Australia's High Court, has died at the age of 83. Gaudron's career was marked by her persistent struggle against inequality within Australia's legal system.
Born in 1943, Gaudron began her legal studies at the University of Sydney Law School in 1961 as a part-time student. She recalled facing an unwelcoming environment, where the women's common room had been a converted men's urinal and lectures began with a greeting to 'gentlemen.' Her challenges extended beyond academia, as she was repeatedly denied clerkships by lawyers unwilling to hire women.
Despite these obstacles, Gaudron achieved significant milestones in her career. She became the youngest federal judge on the former Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and later served as the first female NSW solicitor-general. Her most notable achievement came at age 44 when she was appointed to the High Court in 1987, becoming the first woman to hold that position.
Gaudron retired from the High Court in 2003 at the age of 60. Following her retirement, she took on a role at the International Labour Organisation's Administrative Tribunal in Geneva.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland recognized Gaudron as 'a trailblazer of remarkable intellect who helped reshape the legal profession in Australia.' Rowland added, 'Justice Gaudron broke barriers at every stage of an extraordinary legal career, and we will remember her contributions for decades to come.'
The Justices of the High Court issued a statement expressing their 'sincere sympathies to Ms Gaudron's family.' The statement further noted, 'Throughout her distinguished career, Ms Gaudron advanced the role of women in the legal profession and in the judiciary by her advocacy as well as her example. As a Justice of the High Court for 16 years, her impact on its institutional character and contribution to its work were profound.'
Gaudron is survived by her two daughters, Danielle and Julienne, and her son, Patrick.