Hedland-raised lawyer Michael Lundberg becomes first Indigenous Supreme Court Justice

A leading commercial litigator and arbitration lawyer, who grew up in Port Hedland, has made history after becoming the first Aboriginal judge on the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Michael Lundberg was appointed as Supreme Court Judge on September 21 after practising law for close to three decades.

His legal career began at the Crown Solicitor’s office in 1994 before he went into private practice in 2000 at King & Wood Mallesons, where he became a partner and worked for 18 years.

He is the son of Dr Sue Gordon who was the State’s first Aboriginal magistrate and a member of the Stolen Generation.

Speaking to The West Australian, Mr Lundberg said it was some of that heritage — along with his extensive legal experience — he hoped to bring to his new role.

“My mother has shaped me into one of the proud generation,” he said.

“Proud of the way Stolen Generation parents dealt with or overcame their trauma and the adversity of being removed as children. Proud of how Aboriginal families we grew up with supported and protected each other.

“Proud that our parents have achieved so much and in the case of my mother, proud that she has committed herself to 50 years of public service in Indigenous affairs and as a Children’s Court magistrate, working hard to improve the lives of Aboriginal people in this country.”

Attorney General John Quigley said the appointment of Mr Lundberg was a landmark step for the State’s justice system and another move towards closing the gap with First Nations people.

“The son of a member of the Stolen Generation, Mr Lundberg grew up in Port Hedland and obtained law and commerce degrees from the University of Western Australia,” he said.

“He is recognised as one of Australia’s best lawyers in his areas of expertise, which include dispute resolution in the energy and resources sectors, intellectual property law, industrial relations and defamation matters.

“Mr Lundberg played an integral pro bono role in obtaining the freedom of Gene Gibson, who spent nearly five years in prison for a crime he did not commit because of a miscarriage of justice and police misconduct.”

He will join the Supreme Court bench on November 28.