Ruth Mc Coll

The Honourable Justice Ruth Stephanie McColl AO is a distinguished figure in Australian law, renowned for her trailblazing contributions to the judiciary and her advocacy for gender equality and public service.

Born in 1950, McColl graduated from the University of Sydney with degrees in Arts and Law in 1975. She began her legal career at the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office, serving from 1976 to 1980. Admitted to the NSW Bar in 1980, she was appointed Senior Counsel in 1994. Notably, she became the first woman to serve as President of the NSW Bar Association (1999–2001) and later led the Australian Bar Association (2001–2002).

In 2003, McColl was appointed as a Judge of Appeal in the NSW Court of Appeal, where she served until her retirement in January 2019. Her tenure was marked by significant contributions to defamation, commercial, and public law, authoring over 1,200 judgments. Her dissenting opinion in Rich & Silbermann v ASIC (2003) was later vindicated by the High Court, underscoring her legal acumen.

Beyond the bench, McColl was deeply committed to public service. She served as a part-time Commissioner of the NSW Law Reform Commission, Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), and President of the Public Interest Law Clearing House. She also played a pivotal role in the inquest into the 1997 Thredbo landslide.

In recognition of her service, McColl was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2004. Post-retirement, she continues to contribute to the legal community as a patron of Justice Connect, advocating for access to justice for marginalized groups.

Justice McColl's career exemplifies dedication to the law, public service, and the advancement of women in the legal profession.

Ruth McColl AO SC played a pivotal role in the Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (ICAC) investigation into former New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Appointed as Assistant Commissioner, McColl presided over Operation Keppel, which examined whether Berejiklian breached public trust by failing to disclose her close personal relationship with then-MP Daryl Maguire while overseeing significant funding decisions that benefited his electorate.

During the public hearings, McColl maintained a firm and impartial approach, ensuring that proceedings remained focused on the evidence. She directly questioned Berejiklian about her failure to disclose the relationship, emphasizing the importance of transparency in public office.

After her term as Assistant Commissioner concluded in October 2022, McColl was retained as a consultant to finalize the investigation's report. In June 2023, ICAC released its findings, concluding that Berejiklian had engaged in serious corrupt conduct by breaching public trust and failing to report suspicions of Maguire’s corrupt activities.

Berejiklian challenged the validity of the report, arguing that McColl lacked the authority to contribute to its finalization after her term ended. However, in July 2024, the New South Wales Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal in a 2–1 decision, affirming that McColl’s continued involvement was lawful and that the report’s findings stood.

McColl’s leadership in this high-profile inquiry underscored her commitment to upholding integrity within public institutions and reinforced the importance of independent oversight in maintaining public confidence in government.