Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe honoured

Queensland’s retiring Chief Judge Patsy Wolfe AO has been honoured for her 15 years as head of the District Court at a special valedictory ceremony today.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Jarrod Bleijie congratulated Her Honour on nearly two decades of service to Queensland and the justice system.

“The Honourable Patsy Wolfe has been fearless, effective and efficient in her administration of the District Court and forensic in her approach to all things judicial,” Mr Bleijie said.

“After originally pursuing careers in medicine and journalism, she has proven to be an outstanding Chief Judge and I have appreciated her courtesy, wise counsel and co-operative approach.

“From day one, Her Honour has been a strong advocate for increased court resourcing.

“That advocacy was instrumental in the Government’s decision to announce plans for an additional Cairns-based Judge of the District Court this week, as part of our commitment to revitalise frontline services.

“At her swearing-in in 1999, Chief Judge Wolfe set clear goals to improve communication and outreach to the public, diversity, better management and use of technology, stricter supervision of case flow and, above all, a stronger commitment to handling cases fairly, swiftly and economically.

“She leaves the Bench secure in the knowledge she has delivered on those aspirations, with interest.

“Before being appointed to the District Court, Her Honour served as Deputy Commissioner of the Fitzgerald Inquiry and as a part-time Commissioner on the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

“Last year she received the Order of Australia for her ‘distinguished service to the judiciary, to the law through legal education reform and as a mentor and role model for women’.

“Her Honour leaves behind a modern, progressive and professional court with a wide range of specialist responsibilities.

“On behalf of the Government, I thank her for her years of distinguished service to the law, the District Court and the wider community and I wish her well in retirement.”

[ENDS] 17 October 2014

Media Contact: Ashley McDermid 0412 731 355