The exercise of judicial power is one of the most important expressions of state authority in the Australian constitutional landscape. Yet, it is also one of the most commonplace. It bears repetition, then, to say that the makeup of the judiciary is of paramount importance to the standard of justice delivered by Australia’s court systems and the cultural expectations they set: not only in the legal profession, but the Australian community more broadly. Despite this fact, it is frequently observed that Australia’s judicial officers do not adequately represent the diversity of our community.

To speak to this issue, the PLN was joined by His Honour Judge Pillay of the County Court of Victoria. His Honour examined the effects that a lack of diversity among the judiciary has on the impartiality of its members and the consequences this has for justice, society and individual rights.