Patricia Jane Staunton AM (born 30 November 1946) is an Australian judge and former politician. She was a Labor member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 1995 to 1997. Born in Townsville, Queensland, she began her career as a registered nurse, working at Townsville General Hospital and then the Royal Hospital for Women at Paddington in Sydney. She then worked at St. Vincent's Hospital from 1963 to 1969, before leaving for the United Kingdom to study law at the University of London. Staunton graduated in Law in London in 1975 and then undertook post-graduate Bar exams at the Inner Temple, and was called to the Bar of England and Wales in 1976. She returned to Australia and was admitted to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as a barrister in 1976, and was in private practice 1