Hugh Williams (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir John "Hugh" Williams, KNZM
, QC
(born 23 September 1939) is the current President of the New Zealand Electoral Commission
and a retired Judge of High Court of New Zealand
.
Williams was educated at Wellington College
, Gisborne Boys' High School
and graduated with a LLM (Hon) from Victoria University of Wellington
.
Williams was appointed a Queen's Counsel
in 1988 and a High Court Justice
in 1997. He was the Senior Puisne Judge and was previously for 6 years a Master (Associate Judge) of the High Court. He was for many years the longest serving Judge based at the High Court of New Zealand
at Auckland
until he retired on 22 September 2009.
Williams was the Criminal List Judge for Auckland, and presided over many high profile trials, including the 2007 trials of Gardner and Kahui.
Williams was a former Chancellor of Massey University
from 1990–1997, City Councillor for Palmerston North City from 1983-1989. He is a former President of the New Zealand Law Society
and a current a trustee of the Kea Conservation Trust.
On 7 June 2010, Williams was made an Additional Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
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 23 September 1939) is the current President of the New Zealand Electoral Commission
Electoral Commission (New Zealand)
The Electoral Commission of New Zealand is a governmental body responsible for administering certain aspects of the country's electoral system....
and a retired Judge of 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....
.
Williams was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
, Gisborne Boys' High School
Gisborne Boys' High School
Gisborne Boys' High School is a boys' secondary school situated in Gisborne, New Zealand that was originally founded as a Co-Ed school in 1909 and was known as Gisborne High School. In 1956 the school became Gisborne Boys High School when the original school was split into two single-sex...
and graduated with a LLM (Hon) from Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
.
Williams was appointed a 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 1988 and a High Court Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
in 1997. He was the Senior Puisne Judge and was previously for 6 years a Master (Associate Judge) of the High Court. He was for many years the longest serving Judge based at 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....
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...
until he retired on 22 September 2009.
Williams was the Criminal List Judge for Auckland, and presided over many high profile trials, including the 2007 trials of Gardner and Kahui.
Williams was a former Chancellor of Massey University
Massey University
Massey University is one of New Zealand's largest universities with approximately 36,000 students, 20,000 of whom are extramural students.The University has campuses in Palmerston North , Wellington and Auckland . Massey offers most of its degrees extramurally within New Zealand and internationally...
from 1990–1997, City Councillor for Palmerston North City from 1983-1989. He is a former President of the New Zealand Law Society
New Zealand Law Society
The New Zealand Law Society is the parent body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. It was established in 1869, and regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand...
and a current a trustee of the Kea Conservation Trust.
On 7 June 2010, Williams was made an Additional 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 Queen's Birthday Honours List.