The Hon Catherine Gail BUTTON
Judge, Federal Court of Australia: 16.1.2023
Location: Melbourne
Other Commissions/Appointments:
Australian Competition Tribunal – Deputy President
Justice Button was appointed to the Federal Court on 16 January 2023.
Justice Button graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws in 1997 from the University of Melbourne. Justice Button also studied as a Rhodes Scholar from 2000 to 2003, graduating from the University of Oxford with a Bachelor of Civil Law in 2000, a Master of Philosophy in Law in 2001 and a Doctor of Philosophy in 2003.
Justice Button was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2000. Prior to joining the Bar in 2007, Justice Button was a senior associate with Minter Ellison in the commercial disputes division and also spent some time working in the United Kingdom at the Law Commission.
Justice Button was appointed Senior Counsel in 2018. At the Bar, Justice Button practised in areas of corporate, commercial, regulatory and tax law.
In July 2021 Justice Button was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
In March 2026, Justice Button was appointed a part-time Deputy President of the Australian Competition Tribunal.
Associateship applications
Justice Button’s Chambers are staffed by two associates. The usual duration of each associate position is about 12 months.
Justice Button is accepting applications for two associates, one to commence in July 2027 and the second to commence in January 2028.
Her Honour invites interested persons to apply by 31 July 2026. Applications should be made to Associate.ButtonJ@fedcourt.gov.au, and should include a one page covering letter, a curriculum vitae with names of referees, and an academic transcript. The application should also make clear whether the applicant is applying for the first or second vacancy, or whether the applicant wishes to be considered for both.
General information about associate positions can be found on the Employment pages of the website.
Last updated 27 March 2026
NOTE: Australian citizenship is a condition of engagement and may only be waived in exceptional circumstances. A character clearance is generally subject to a nil response being returned to a police record check.
