The Hon Justice Debbie Mortimer

Overview

Justice Mortimer was appointed to the Federal Court in July 2013, based in Melbourne. Prior to her appointment, she was a member of the Victorian Bar and was appointed Senior Counsel in 2003. She remains a Senior Fellow at Melbourne Law School and a member of the Advisory Board of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies.

Justice Mortimer's practice was principally in public law, together with anti discrimination and extradition law, and in all areas she acted for both applicants and respondents, and for and against government, in state and federal jurisdictions including in the High Court.

Justice Mortimer has had a substantial public interest practice, particularly in migration law, environmental law and anti-discrimination law, and was involved in many ground-breaking cases over the last 20 years. She has received a number of awards in respect of this work, including the 2011 Law Council of Australia President's Medal, the Victorian Bar's Pro Bono Perpetual Trophy and the Australian Human Rights Commission Law Award.