Ruth McColl
Encyclopedia
Ruth Stephanie McColl AO
(born 1950) is a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
, the highest court in the State of New South Wales
, Australia
, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy
.
in 1975.
In 1980, McColl was admitted to the NSW Bar. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 1994. From 2001-02, McColl was President of the Australian Bar Association, and from 1999-2001 she was President of the New South Wales Bar Association - the first woman to serve in that position.
McColl has also served as Vice-President of Australian Women Lawyers (1996-99) and President of NSW Women Lawyers (1996-1997). She has been a part time Commissioner of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission, President of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (1999-2002), Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (1998-2000), and Counsel assisting the Coroner in relation to the inquest into the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
In 2003, McColl was appointed a Judge of Appeal of the NSW Court of Appeal
.
McColl is the current President of the Judicial Conference of Australia.
for service to the law, to continuing professional development and education, particularly for women, and to the community in matters affecting Indigenous groups and youth.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 1950) is a judge of the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
, the highest court in the State of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, which forms part of the Australian court hierarchy
Australian court hierarchy
There are two streams within the hierarchy of Australian courts, the federal stream and the state and territory stream. While the federal courts and the court systems in each state and territory are separate, the High Court of Australia remains the ultimate court of appeal for the Australian...
.
Education
McColl studied at Willoughby Girls High School. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from the University of SydneyUniversity of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in 1975.
Career
McColl worked as a solicitor in the NSW Crown Solicitor's Office from 1976-80.In 1980, McColl was admitted to the NSW Bar. She was appointed Senior Counsel in 1994. From 2001-02, McColl was President of the Australian Bar Association, and from 1999-2001 she was President of the New South Wales Bar Association - the first woman to serve in that position.
McColl has also served as Vice-President of Australian Women Lawyers (1996-99) and President of NSW Women Lawyers (1996-1997). She has been a part time Commissioner of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission, President of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (1999-2002), Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (1998-2000), and Counsel assisting the Coroner in relation to the inquest into the 1997 Thredbo landslide.
In 2003, McColl was appointed a Judge of Appeal of the NSW Court of Appeal
Supreme Court of New South Wales
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales...
.
McColl is the current President of the Judicial Conference of Australia.
Honours
In 2004, McColl was made an Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
for service to the law, to continuing professional development and education, particularly for women, and to the community in matters affecting Indigenous groups and youth.