David Baragwanath
Encyclopedia
Sir William "David" Baragwanath, KNZM
, QC
(born 1940), is a retired New Zealand
judge. He was appointed to the High Court of New Zealand
bench in 1995 and the New Zealand Court of Appeal in 2007, stepping down from the bench in July 2010.
Born in Auckland, his late father was The Very Rev
Owen Baragwanath, OBE
, former Moderator
of the Presbyterian Church
in New Zealand. He attended Auckland Grammar School
, followed by University of Auckland Law School
, as well as a Rhodes Scholar who earned a Bachelor of Civil Law
from Oxford University.
He is former partner at Meredith Connell, was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1983 and is a former president of the New Zealand Law Commission
. At the time of his appointment to the Court of Appeal, he was the second longest serving High Court Judge based at the High Court at Auckland
, behind Justice Williams
. Justice Baragwanath is also a New Zealand member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
in The Hague
.
In October 2010, it was announced Justice Baragwanath had been appointed one of four appeal judges to United Nations
Special Tribunal for Lebanon
. Judge Baragwanath was elected President of the Tribunal on 10 October 2011, following the retirement of Judge Antonio Cassese
on grounds of ill health.
He was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the New Year Honours announced on 31 December 2010.
Baragwanath
is a Cornish
name meaning 'wheaten bread' in the Cornish language
.
Justice Baragwanath has been married twice. His current and second wife is the educationalist Susan Baragwanath.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(born 1940), is a retired New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
judge. He was appointed to the High Court of New Zealand
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
bench in 1995 and the New Zealand Court of Appeal in 2007, stepping down from the bench in July 2010.
Born in Auckland, his late father was The Very Rev
Very Reverend
The Very Reverend is a style given to certain religious figures.*In the Roman Catholic Church, by custom, priests who hold positions of particular note: e.g...
Owen Baragwanath, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, former Moderator
Moderator of the General Assembly
The Moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a presbyterian or reformed church. Kirk Sessions and Presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator....
of the Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand
The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand is the main Presbyterian church in New Zealand.-History:The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand was formed in October 1901 with the amalgamation of churches in Synod of Otago and Southland with those north of the Waitaki River.Presbyterians had by and...
in New Zealand. He attended Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School
Auckland Grammar School is a state secondary school for years 9 to 13 boys in Auckland, New Zealand. It had a roll of 2,483 in 2008, including a number of boarders who live in nearby Tibbs' House, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand...
, followed by University of Auckland Law School
University of Auckland Law School
The University of Auckland Law School is one of the nine faculties that make up the University of Auckland. It forms part of the city campus but is separate from what is termed the "main campus" which spreads across four blocks, two on each side of Symonds Street...
, as well as a Rhodes Scholar who earned a Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
from Oxford University.
He is former partner at Meredith Connell, was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1983 and is a former president of the New Zealand Law Commission
New Zealand Law Commission
New Zealand's Law Commission was established in 1986 by the Law Commission Act 1985. The Commission is a Crown Entity under the Crown Entities Act 2004....
. At the time of his appointment to the Court of Appeal, he was the second longest serving High Court Judge based at the High Court at Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, behind Justice Williams
Hugh Williams (judge)
Sir John "Hugh" Williams, KNZM, QC is the current President of the New Zealand Electoral Commission and a retired Judge of High Court of New Zealand....
. Justice Baragwanath is also a New Zealand member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration
Permanent Court of Arbitration
The Permanent Court of Arbitration , is an international organization based in The Hague in the Netherlands.-History:The court was established in 1899 as one of the acts of the first Hague Peace Conference, which makes it the oldest institution for international dispute resolution.The creation of...
in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
.
In October 2010, it was announced Justice Baragwanath had been appointed one of four appeal judges to United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Special Tribunal for Lebanon
Special Tribunal for Lebanon
The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an international tribunal for the prosecution under Lebanese law of those responsible for the assassination of Rafic Hariri on February 14, 2005. The tribunal also has jurisdiction over a series of other attacks in Lebanon if they are proven to be connected...
. Judge Baragwanath was elected President of the Tribunal on 10 October 2011, following the retirement of Judge Antonio Cassese
Antonio Cassese
Antonio Cassese was an Italian jurist who specialized in public international law. He was formerly associated with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon which he presided over until his resignation on health grounds in 1 October 2011...
on grounds of ill health.
He was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
in the New Year Honours announced on 31 December 2010.
Baragwanath
Baragwanath
Baragwanath is a Cornish language surname originating in west Cornwall in the UK. As a result of emigration members of the Baragwanath family can now be found in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand...
is a Cornish
Cornish people
The Cornish are a people associated with Cornwall, a county and Duchy in the south-west of the United Kingdom that is seen in some respects as distinct from England, having more in common with the other Celtic parts of the United Kingdom such as Wales, as well as with other Celtic nations in Europe...
name meaning 'wheaten bread' in the Cornish language
Cornish language
Cornish is a Brythonic Celtic language and a recognised minority language of the United Kingdom. Along with Welsh and Breton, it is directly descended from the ancient British language spoken throughout much of Britain before the English language came to dominate...
.
Justice Baragwanath has been married twice. His current and second wife is the educationalist Susan Baragwanath.