Thomas Gault
Encyclopedia
Sir Thomas Munro Gault, KNZM
, QC
, PC
was a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
and is a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
as well as a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong.
Gault attended Wellington College
and graduated with a Master of Laws
degree from Victoria University of Wellington
. After graduation he was a member of the law firm A J Park & Son for 20 years. In 1981, he began practicing as a barrister sole, and in 1984 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel
.
His first appointment to the bench was as a Judge of the High Court
in 1987, followed three years later by being made a member of the Court of Appeal
. He was appointed President of the Court of Appeal in May 2002.
In 2001 he was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
for his services to the judiciary.
Gault is a keen golfer, winning the New Zealand Universities’ Championship. He was awarded Blues by both Victoria University and the University of New Zealand
. Moving into the administration of the game, he was President of the New Zealand Golf Association from 1987 to 1996 and as an Advisory Member of the Rules of Golf
and Amateur Status Committees from 1978 to 1996. He was referee for The Open Championship
from 1993 to 1998. He joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
in 1994, and was made its first New Zealand captain in September 2005.
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...
, PC
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
was a Justice of the Supreme Court of New Zealand
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
and is a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
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...
as well as a non-permanent judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong.
Gault attended 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...
and graduated with a Master of Laws
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree 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...
. After graduation he was a member of the law firm A J Park & Son for 20 years. In 1981, he began practicing as a barrister sole, and in 1984 he 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...
.
His first appointment to the bench was as a Judge of the High Court
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....
in 1987, followed three years later by being made a member of the 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...
. He was appointed President of the Court of Appeal in May 2002.
In 2001 he was made 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...
for his services to the judiciary.
Gault is a keen golfer, winning the New Zealand Universities’ Championship. He was awarded Blues by both Victoria University and the University of New Zealand
University of New Zealand
The University of New Zealand was the New Zealand university from 1870 to 1961. It was the sole New Zealand university, having a federal structure embracing several constituent colleges at various locations around New Zealand...
. Moving into the administration of the game, he was President of the New Zealand Golf Association from 1987 to 1996 and as an Advisory Member of the Rules of Golf
Rules of golf
The rules of golf are a standard set of regulations and procedures by which the sport of golf should be played. They are jointly written and administered by the R&A the governing body of golf worldwide except in the United States and Mexico, which are the responsibility of the United States Golf...
and Amateur Status Committees from 1978 to 1996. He was referee for The Open Championship
The Open Championship
The Open Championship, or simply The Open , is the oldest of the four major championships in professional golf. It is the only "major" held outside the USA and is administered by The R&A, which is the governing body of golf outside the USA and Mexico...
from 1993 to 1998. He joined The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews
The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is one of the oldest and most prestigious golf clubs in the world . It is based in St Andrews, Fife, Scotland, and is regarded as the worldwide "Home of Golf"...
in 1994, and was made its first New Zealand captain in September 2005.