Judith Fordham

Judith was once a battered wife with three small children who was forced to live on food vouchers from the Salvation Army. Today she is one of Western Australia’s best known criminal lawyers, who built up her own firm from a one person practice to a firm with twelve employees. She subsequently sold her practice to become a barrister.

Judith is currently undertaking groundbreaking research at the University of Western Australia where she taught Criminal Law and Evidence for science undergraduates and postgraduates at the Centre for Forensic Science. She is also doing a PhD on the way juries deal with evidence on criminal cases.
Her thesis stirred intense interest across the criminal law field because Judith has secured unprecedented access to jurors for post trial interviews. It is usually illegal to approach jurors but personal permission from the W.A. Attorney General, has given her a rare insight into their deliberations.

As a barrister Judith has been briefed on a wide range of State and Commonwealth Criminal cases, including trials at all levels and appeals including the High Court of Australia. Throughout her career Judith has assisted police in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offences. Her science training and current studies gives her a special interest and expertise in Forensics, including Pathology (interpreting microscopic views of body tissues, the study of disease), Ballistics (the dynamics of projectiles) and Entomology (the scientific study of insects).

Judith is also a much in demand speaker with a range of fascinating, motivational and entertaining presentations including:

‘Trials & Tribulations: My Life of Crime’,
Strange people and strange stories from 20 years as a criminal barrister.

‘CSI Perth’
What is happening in the real world of forensic science.

‘Crime & Punishment’
How a battered woman became a leading barrister.