David Woodroffe officially sworn in as the first Aboriginal judge in the Territory Local Court

Legal history has been made in the Territory with the first Aboriginal local court judge appointed. Read what it means for the judiciary, and future generations.

NT Supreme Court acting Chief Justice Stephen Southwood at the swearing-in of Judge David Woodroffe on Tuesday, January 3. Mr Woodroffe is the Territory's first Aboriginal Local Court Judge.

The son of a Stolen Generations survivor has become the Territory’s first Aboriginal local court judge.

David Woodroffe was officially sworn in as a Judge of the Local Court of the Northern Territory on Tuesday.

He was supported by friends, family and colleagues as he took the judicial oath, and stepped into the Territory’s history books.

The first Aboriginal Local Court judge said it was a “day of reflection for me, on the past and the present”.

“I also think of the future,” he said.

“To play a small part in the diversity of the justice system of the Northern Territory and the inclusion of Aboriginal people within it.”

Mr Woodroffe said the day brought back the memories of the love and encouragement from his late father, a member of the Stolen Generation.

David Woodroffe was surrounded by family after he was officially sworn in as the first Aboriginal Local Court Judge in the Northern Territory on Tuesday, January 3.

Mr Woodroffe is a descendant of the Jingili Modburra people and stolen generations of Kahlin Compound and Retta Dixon Homes.

His mother Gillian Emmerson said it was amazing to watch her son take his oath.

“I never thought anything like that could happen,” she said.

“It’s changed his whole life — its fantastic.

His mother said her son always kept “his head down, no partying or anything”.

Zach Cork said his Uncle’s appointment was “empowering” and “gave us something to aspire to”.

“His father was part of the Stolen Generation, and look where he’s at now; the local courts of Darwin,” Mr Cork said.

Mr Woodroffe was among the first cohort of Aboriginal lawyers to study and be admitted to the Supreme Court in 1999.

Before he crossed to the bench as an acting Judge in July, Mr Woodroffe was a highly decorated lawyer and the long-serving principal legal officer at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency.

David Woodroffe was officially sworn in as a Judge of the Local Court of the Northern Territory on Tuesday.

Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said the historic appointment was critical to ensure the justice system reflected the Territory community.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Ms Fyles said.

“It’s important that we have a diversity of views.

“Particularly … when you look at the rates of Aboriginal incarceration.

“It is complex, there is not one single solution we can put in place. But it is important to have an Aboriginal Territorian in our local court.”

His appointment comes as the courts, legal bodies and corrections staff highlight under-resourcing in the justice system.

Ms Fyles said the government was committed to properly resourcing the court, particularly with a number of judges expected to take long service leave in 2023.

Originally published as David Woodroffe officially sworn in as the first Aboriginal judge in the Territory Local Court