John Jeffries (judge)

The Honorable
Sir John Jeffries
Kt
Jeffries in 1966
14th Deputy Mayor of Wellington City
In office
1971–1974
Mayor Sir Frank Kitts
Preceded by David Porter
Succeeded by Ian Lawrence
Wellington City Councillor
In office
1962–1974
Personal details
Born 1929
Wellington, New Zealand
Political party Labour
Relations Bill Jeffries (brother)
Alma mater Victoria University
Profession Judge

Sir John Francis Jeffries Kt (born 1929) is a former New Zealand local politician, civil servant and later a Judge of the High Court.

Biography

Early life and career

Jeffries was born in Wellington in 1929 and was educated at St Patrick's College.[1] He began work in 1946, first as an insurance clerk, and then as a teacher. He received his tertiary education at Victoria University College, graduating from first with a Bachelor of Arts in 1956 and later a Bachelor of Law in 1959.[2] Then he became first a law clerk before qualifying as a lawyer himself. He was admitted to the bar in 1961 and became a partner in the firm of Scott, Hardie Boys, Morrison and Jeffries (alongside Sir Michael Hardie Boys). He later became vice-president of the New Zealand Law Society.[1]

Political career

In 1962 Jeffries was elected to the Wellington City Council on a Labour Party ticket, remaining on the council for 12 years.[3][4] In 1968 he became leader of the Labour caucus on the council and in 1971 he was elected deputy-mayor to Sir Frank Kitts. A later Wellington Mayor Sir Michael Fowler (who was on the Council at the same time as Jeffries) later described Jeffries as an "extremely good" councillor.[5] His younger brother Bill Jeffries succeeded him as a Councillor and was later a MP.

Judicial career

In 1976 he was appointed as a Judge of the High Court serving in this capacity until his retirement in 1992.[6] In the 1993 New Year Honours he was appointed a Knight Bachelor for his service to New Zealand's legal system.[7]

Later activities

In 1975 he was appointed as the chairman of Air New Zealand. He resigned later in the year, following the 1975 general election, after receiving criticisms from incoming Prime Minister Robert Muldoon over the appointees of the outgoing Labour government.[6] From 1992 to 1997 he was the head of the Police Complaints Authority.[8] In July 1997 he was appointed chairman of the New Zealand Press Council, a position he held until July 2005. He was also Commissioner of Security Warrants.

References

  1. 1 2 Rowe, Alistair (9 March 1976). "Mr Jeffries to be Judge in Supreme Court". The Evening Post.
  2. ↑ "NZ university graduates 1871–1960: I–K". shadowsoftime. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  3. ↑ James, T.W. (23 October 1962). Declaration of Election Results (Report). Wellington City Council.
  4. ↑ "Official Result of Poll in Wellington". The Dominion. 29 October 1962.
  5. ↑ Romanos, Joseph (28 May 2009). "The Wellingtonian interview: Sir Michael Fowler". The Wellingtonian. Retrieved 25 May 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Rare Appointment of Two Judges". The Evening Post. 10 March 1976.
  7. ↑ New Zealand list: "No. 53154". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1992. pp. 29–36.
  8. ↑ "History". Independent Police Conduct Authority. 28 May 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
Political offices
Preceded by
David Porter		 Deputy Mayor of Wellington
1971–1974		 Succeeded by
Ian Lawrence
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