She practises in criminal law where she appears in trials in the Supreme, District and Magistrates Courts of
Queensland, and appeals in the High Court of Australia and Queensland Court of Appeal. Ruth has been
recognised as a pre-eminent Queensland senior counsel in criminal law in Doyle’s Guide in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Ruth regularly appears in Commissions of Inquiry and inquests. In 2024-2025, Ruth was the Senior Counsel
Assisting the inquest into the Wieambilla shootings. In 2022, Ruth was the Senior Counsel Assisting the
Independent Commission of Inquiry into Queensland Police Service responses to domestic and family violence.
In 2020 – 2021, Ruth was one of the Counsel Assisting the Queensland Coal Mining Board of Inquiry.
Ruth is also regularly engaged in professional disciplinary matters and regulatory prosecutions. She also
appears in matters under the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act 2003 (Qld).
Ruth is as a current part-time member of the Queensland Law Reform Commission. She was previously a parttime member of the Commission from 2017 to 2020.
She is a member of the Legal Practitioners Admissions Board and a councillor of the Incorporated Council of
Law Reporting for the State of Queensland.
Ruth is a member of the Bar Council of the Queensland Bar Association. She is also a member of the
Association’s Criminal Law Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, Bar Practice Course Management
Committee and Annual Bar Conference Committee.
Areas of Practice Appellate Commissions of Inquiry Criminal Law Disciplinary Proceedings Inquests Regulatory Prosecutions
