Marilyn Warren

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Marilyn Louise Warren AC QC (1951 – ) is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Victoria. She is the first woman to be appointed to that position and the first woman to be appointed Chief Justice in any of the states and territories of Australia.

Warren grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Sandringham, and was educated at the Kilbreda Convent in Mentone. She later studied law at Monash University in the early 1970s, when female students represented just ten percent of those studying law, and taught at the leading women's university college Janet Clarke Hall. Warren was a champion squash player, winning Monash's women's championship ten years in a row. She also represented the state of Victoria three times, in a team which won the Australian championships three years running.^[1] She graduated with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence degree in 1973, and a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1974, and completed her articles of clerkship with a solicitor for the Government of Victoria, the first female articled clerk in public service.

From 1975 until 1985, Warren worked as a solicitor in the government sector, during which time she served as Deputy Secretary of the Attorney-General of Victoria's Department, and was a senior policy adviser to three Attorneys-General of Victoria, namely Haddon Storey, John Cain and Jim Kennan. In 1983, Warren completed her Master of Laws degree at Monash University. She was admitted to the Victorian Bar to practice as a barrister in 1985, and started a private practice in areas such as commercial law and administrative law. From 1986 to 1994, Warren was a member of the Law Reform Committee of the Victorian Bar. On 25 November 1997 Warren was made a QC.

On 13 October 1998, Warren was appointed as a judge on the Supreme Court of Victoria. She was only the third female judge of the court. Representatives of the Victorian Bar, giving Warren the customary welcome to new judges, said "We at the Bar look forward to the days of the Warren Supreme Court in this State,"^[2] alluding to the high reputation of the Supreme Court of the United States under Earl Warren, and recognising Warren's own talent. As a judge, Warren presided over cases on all of the court's lists, but particularly the Commercial List, continuing her involvement in commercial law from her time as a barrister. From 2000, Warren was the judge in charge of the Commercial List.

Warren was appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (thus becoming Chief Justice of Victoria) on 26 November 2003, the appointment having been announced the day before, which was exactly six years after Warren was made a QC. At a ceremonial sitting in the Banco Courtroom at the Supreme Court building on 1 December 2003, Warren was welcomed as the new Chief Justice. The Attorney-General of Victoria, Rob Hulls, recognised Warren's work in advocating equality of opportunity for women lawyers, and described her as "an eminent jurist, [who] will be an unparalleled and inspirational leader of this Court."^[2] As Chief Justice, Warren continues to hear cases from all areas of the court's jurisdiction. In April 2004, Warren was presented with an honorary Doctorate of Laws from Monash University. On 13 June 2005, at the Queen's Birthday honours ceremony, Warren was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), Australia's highest civil honour, in recognition of her service to the judiciary, to forensic medicine and "her services in areas affecting the social and economic conditions of women."^[3] Warren chooses to ride a bicycle to work when she can, despite the fact that her job comes with a chauffeur, and she is a regular bushwalker. She is also apparently known for playing Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture at high volume while travelling between courts.^[2]

Warren was named as a possible candidate to succeed Justice Michael McHugh of the High Court of Australia when he retired in October 2005, especially after McHugh noted that he would like a woman to succeed him, although Justice Susan Crennan of the Federal Court of Australia was chosen instead.^[4]