GEMMA ROSS-MCGLYNN

Gemma is a solicitor in the Police Misconduct team at Robinson Gill. A seasoned lawyer with a background in criminal defence, she advocates for the rights of vulnerable groups within the criminal justice system.

Challenging abuses of power

Gemma is passionate about working with marginalised communities because she has seen what can go wrong when there is an imbalance of power between state and citizen, and the consequences of allowing the exercise of state power to go unchecked.

Working almost exclusively with indigenous communities in Western Australia’s remote Kimberly region during her legal training, Gemma observed the prevalence of police misconduct faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Gemma was also deeply impacted by her exposure to police brutality during a period of civil unrest whilst studying internationally in Istanbul, Turkey. These encounters formed Gemma’s interest in the use of criminal procedure as a tool to challenge abuses and failures in the justice system – particularly those which disproportionately affect minority and vulnerable groups.

An intimate knowledge of criminal justice

Gemma’s background in criminal law affords her an insight into the inner workings of the criminal justice system. As an Associate to Her Honour Judge Gaynor of the County Court of Victoria, one of the longest serving judges in the criminal division, she developed an understanding of criminal procedure and the way in which the State and Federal governments operate and run criminal investigations and prosecute criminal charges against individuals.

Going on to practise in criminal defence, including time spent as a duty solicitor for Victoria Legal Aid, Gemma was confronted with the sheer volume of cases facing both the Magistrates and County Courts. She witnessed the permissive approach taken by the mainstream criminal justice system to individual’s experience of police brutality, particularly in respect of misconduct perpetrated by Victoria Police and Corrections Victoria against the most vulnerable members of our society including minority and LGBTQ groups and protestors.

Gemma’s work focuses on protecting the fundamental rights of people who are treated unlawfully and calling for systemic law reforms to improve police and prison accountability. Gemma fights to ensure that her client’s voices are heard because she believes everybody’s story matters.