Joe Williams (judge)
Sir Joseph Victor Williams KNZM (born 1961) is a judge and the first Māori person appointed to the Supreme Court of New Zealand.[1] He is of Ngāti Pūkenga, and Te Arawa descent.
Sir Joe Williams KNZM | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Williams in 2019 | |
| Justice of the Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2019 | |
| Judge of the Court of Appeal | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 1 May 2019 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph Victor Williams 1961 (age 58–59) |
| Alma mater | Victoria University of Wellington University of British Columbia |
Biography
Williams was educated at Lindisfarne College. In 1986, he graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with an LLB, and later with a LLM first class honours from University of British Columbia in Indigenous Rights Law.
In 1999, at the age of 38, he became the youngest person to be appointed Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court. In 2004, Williams was appointed the Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal.
In 2008, he was appointed a Justice of the High Court of New Zealand.[2] In 2017, he became the first Te Reo Māori speaker appointed to the Court of Appeal.[3]
Williams is a former Vice-President of the Māori Law Society, and a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.[4]
In the 2020 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.[5][6]
References
- "Judges — Courts of New Zealand". www.courtsofnz.govt.nz. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- "Appointment of High Court Judge". The Beehive. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- "Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal". The Beehive. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
- "Judges — Courts of New Zealand". Courtsofnz.govt.nz. Retrieved 30 December 2019.
- "New Year Honours 2020: The full list". The New Zealand Herald. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
- "Justice Joseph Williams – first Māori appointed to the Supreme Court bench – awarded knighthood". Stuff.co.nz. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2019.