Jane Hamilton Mathews was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Jane Hamilton Mathews (19 December 1940 – 31 August 2019) was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, a judge of the Federal Court of Australia and President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Early life and education
Mathews was born in Wollongong, NSW, the daughter of Frank Mathews, the Chief Engineer of the BHP Steel Works at Port Kembla and went to school at Frensham School in Mittagong. Mathews studied law at the University of Sydney, residing at the Women's College in 1958 & 59, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws in 1961.
Career
At the time admission as a solicitor required both a law degree and a period as an articled clerk. Mathews did her articles with Dawson Waldron Edwards & Nichols, where she was the first female articled clerk and was admitted as a solicitor in 1962. Mathews returned to Wollongong with Beale and Geddes until 1965 when she worked at Allen, Allen & Hemsley.
Mathews became a barrister in 1969, practising in criminal law and was appointed counsel assisting the Royal Commission on Human Relationships which had broad terms of reference to "inquire into and report upon the family, social, educational, legal and sexual aspects of male and female relationships". The Commission covered topics as diverse as abortion, domestic violence, the police and courts’ treatment of rape victims and discrimination faced by gays and lesbians. The Commission ran from 1974 until 1977. Following which Mathews was appointed a Crown Prosecutor in 1977.
