The Attorney-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Honourable Michelle Rowland MP has today announced the appointment of Deputy Chief Judge Patrizia Mercuri as a Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (FCFCOA) (Division 1).
Deputy Chief Judge Mercuri has been appointed to the Parramatta registry of the Court and will commence on 7 October 2026.
Chief Justice of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Will Alstergren AO, welcomed the appointment.
"Deputy Chief Judge Mercuri has provided outstanding leadership during one of the most significant periods of reform and growth in the Courts' history," the Chief Justice said.
"Her judgement, integrity, tireless work ethic and unwavering commitment to the Courts have earned the respect of judges and staff across the country."
"This appointment is fitting recognition of her distinguished service, leadership and contribution to the work of the Courts. I warmly congratulate Deputy Chief Judge Mercuri and wish her every success in the next chapter of her judicial career."
Biographical details:
Deputy Chief Judge Patrizia Mercuri
Deputy Chief Judge Mercuri was appointed to the Melbourne Registry of the then Federal Circuit Court of Australia on 25 September 2017. She was appointed the inaugural Deputy Chief Judge (General and Fair Work) of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2) on 17 September 2021.
In that role, her Honour led major initiatives including the review and modernisation of the General Federal Law Rules. She established and chaired key judicial committees, including the Joint Legal Committee, which oversaw the implementation of significant reforms to the Family Law Act 1975.
Her Honour also represented the Courts at national and international conferences and supported the Courts' work under the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Justice, with a focus on the rights of women and girls in child support, marital and family law, and the promotion of women judges.
Throughout her service as Deputy Chief Judge, her Honour continued to carry a significant caseload across the jurisdictions of the FCFCOA (Division 2).
Her Honour graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws and a Master of Laws and was admitted to practise as a legal practitioner of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1991. Before her appointment to the Court, her Honour was a partner at Lander & Rogers.
