First Indigenous judge for top WA court

Leading commercial lawyer Michael Lundberg will serve as the first Aboriginal judge appointed to the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Justice Lundberg, who will join the bench on November 28, has almost 30 years' experience in both public and private practice.

A partner at global law firm Jones Day, he specialises in commercial litigation but has also taken on pro bono criminal matters.

Justice Lundberg notably represented Aboriginal man Gene Gibson, whose wrongful conviction for manslaughter was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2017.

Mr Gibson, a cognitively-impaired man who spoke little English and couldn't understand the legal process, had spent almost five years in jail over the death of Josh Warneke.

Chief Justice Peter Quinlan said Justice Lundberg would bring a wealth of commercial and litigation experience to the court.

"His appointment as the first Aboriginal member of the court is a significant milestone in the court's history, as we strive to foster trust and confidence in our justice system on the part of everyone in our community," he said on Wednesday.

"The community of Western Australia are fortunate that Justice Lundberg has chosen to serve the administration of justice in this state in this new role."

Justice Lundberg's mother, Yamatji woman Sue Gordon, was appointed as WA's first Aboriginal magistrate and served 20 years on the Children's Court bench.

Attorney-General John Quigley said it was an important moment for the court.

"This is a landmark appointment for the state's justice system and another step towards closing the gap with First Nations people," he said.