Judith Maryanne Brooks, known as Judy Moran, was born on December 18, 1944, in Victoria, Australia. Not much is documented about her early childhood and upbringing. However, she was raised in the Carlton area of Melbourne.

In 1963, at the age of 18, Judy married Leslie John "Johnny" Cole. They had one son together, Mark Cole, who was born in 1964. In 1966, Judy began a relationship with Lewis Moran while still married to Johnny Cole. Their marriage ended when she was divorced from Cole, and he was killed in a gang-related incident in Sydney in 1982.

With Lewis Moran, Judy had another son named Jason Moran, who was born in 1967. The couple remained together for several years but eventually separated in 1995. Her family faced many tragedies. Her son Mark was murdered in 2000, Jason was killed in 2003, and Lewis was murdered in 2004.

Judy Moran has been described as the matriarch of the Moran family, which is known for its connections to organized crime in Melbourne. Her life was intertwined with figures from the underworld.

On June 15, 2009, Desmond Moran, known as "Tuppence," was shot dead in Ascot Vale. The next day, Judy Moran and three other individuals were arrested in connection with his murder. Among those arrested was Suzanne Kane, who was tied to Judy through family relations. Geoffrey Amour, Kane's partner, was also arrested and charged with murder.

Authorities alleged that Judy Moran hid the getaway car in her garage. She was under police surveillance and was arrested while walking back to her home. In the abandoned car, police found a rifle. They also discovered white gloves nearby, which Judy was said to have worn while driving the car. A search of her home revealed a hidden safe containing three handguns, stolen license plates, a wig, and clothes that matched descriptions of what the gunmen wore.

Judy and Suzanne Kane appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on June 17. At that hearing, bail was denied because their possession of weapons was deemed a danger to the community. They were scheduled to reappear in court on September 9. On September 18, Geoffrey Amour faced the court charged with murder as well.

On March 9, 2011, a jury found Judy Moran guilty of murdering Desmond Moran. She was sentenced on August 10, 2011, to 26 years in prison, with a minimum of 21 years that she must serve before eligible for parole. Suzanne Kane received a suspended sentence of two years on February 2, 2011.