John Henry (New Zealand Justice)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Steele Henry, KNZM
, QC
, is a New Zealand
jurist and former Court of Appeal
judge, and member of the well-known Henry Family
.
The son of former High Court judge, the Hon. Sir Trevor Henry
, John Henry was educated at King's College, Auckland
, before attending Law School at the University of Auckland
.
He graduated with an LLB in 1954 and was admitted to the New Zealand bar in 1955.
He worked as a barrister and solicitor at the Henry family law firm, Wilson Henry (now Hesketh Henry) that was established by his father, Sir Trevor, and gained a reputation as a robust litigator, building a substantial commercial litigation team at the firm. He was made a Queen's Counsel.
In 1984, he was appointed to the bench of the High Court of New Zealand
, later being a Commercial List Judge and then Executive Judge prior to being appointed to the Criminal Appeal Division of the Court of Appeal in 1991 and Justice of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand in 1995.
In 1996 he became a member of the Privy Council
and sat on its Judicial Committee. He was also a justice of the High Court of the Cook Islands.
In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, the New Zealand Government acknowledged his contribution to the New Zealand justice system by making him a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(DCNZM), which Henry opted to convert to the equivalent knighthood (KNZM) in 2009.
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...
, is a 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...
jurist and former Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal of New Zealand
The Court of Appeal of New Zealand, located in Wellington, is New Zealand’s principal intermediate appellate court. In practice, most appeals are resolved at this intermediate appellate level, rather than in the Supreme Court...
judge, and member of the well-known Henry Family
Henry Family of New Zealand
The Henry family migrated to New Zealand from Scotland in the 1870s. In New Zealand they played a major role in forestry, industry, law and philanthropy....
.
The son of former High Court judge, the Hon. Sir Trevor Henry
Trevor Henry
Sir Trevor Ernest Henry was a New Zealand justice and member of the well known Henry family.Henry was born in Thames in 1902 and was the son of John and Edith Henry. He was the eldest of the three sons who include Jack Henry and Clive Henry...
, John Henry was educated at King's College, Auckland
King's College, Auckland
King's College is an independent secondary school in New Zealand. It was originally a boys-only school but now also admits girls in the sixth and seventh forms . The school has strong links to the Anglican church; the Anglican Bishop of Auckland, and the Dean of Auckland are permanent members of...
, before attending Law School at the University of Auckland
University of Auckland
The University of Auckland is a university located in Auckland, New Zealand. It is the largest university in the country and the highest ranked in the 2011 QS World University Rankings, having been ranked worldwide...
.
He graduated with an LLB in 1954 and was admitted to the New Zealand bar in 1955.
He worked as a barrister and solicitor at the Henry family law firm, Wilson Henry (now Hesketh Henry) that was established by his father, Sir Trevor, and gained a reputation as a robust litigator, building a substantial commercial litigation team at the firm. He was made a Queen's Counsel.
In 1984, he was appointed to the bench of 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....
, later being a Commercial List Judge and then Executive Judge prior to being appointed to the Criminal Appeal Division of the Court of Appeal in 1991 and Justice of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand in 1995.
In 1996 he became a member of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
and sat on its Judicial Committee. He was also a justice of the High Court of the Cook Islands.
In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours, the New Zealand Government acknowledged his contribution to the New Zealand justice system by making him a Distinguished 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...
(DCNZM), which Henry opted to convert to the equivalent knighthood (KNZM) in 2009.