Queensland’s outgoing chief justice has lauded increasing gender equity in the legal profession during her final address to court.
Catherine Holmes brought down the curtain on an almost four-decade legal career during her valedictory ceremony on Friday.
Justice Holmes said she was encouraged by increasing signs of equity among women in the legal profession.
“I have thought it as an encouraging sign of increasing equity in the legal profession that a woman from a very working class background, without any legal connections, or the advantage of education could achieve the position of Chief Justice,” she told Brisbane’s Banco Court on Friday.
She said reading and determination were key in unlocking her success.
Leading legal figures attended the ceremony to honour Justice Holmes, 65.
She was the first woman to hold the position when she was appointed the state’s 19th chief justice in 2015.
After finishing her high school education at Oxley State High School, Justice Holmes went on to study at the Australian National University and the University of Queensland.
She was admitted as a barrister in 1984 and appointed senior council 1999.
Justice Holmes was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2000 and the Court of Appeal in 2006.
Justice Holmes served as a founding member of the Women‘s Legal Service, a part-time member of the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal and deputy president of the Queensland Community Corrections Board.
She was counsel assisting the Forde Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse and led the 2011 flood inquiry.
