The Current Supreme Court Bench
The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice
The Right Honourable Justice Blanchard
The Right Honourable Justice Tipping
The Honourable Justice McGrath
The Honourable Justice Wilson
The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice
Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias studied law at the University of Auckland, graduating with LLB (Hons), and was admitted to the Bar in 1970. She gained a JSM from Stanford University in the United States, before entering legal practice from 1972 in Auckland. Dame Sian served as a Law Commissioner from 1986 until 1990. She was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1988 and a judge of the High Court in 1995. Justice Elias became Chief Justice in 1999, and was awarded the GNZM the same year. Dame Sian became a member of the Supreme Court on its establishment in January 2004.
The Right Honourable Justice Blanchard
Justice Peter Blanchard completed an LLM from Auckland University, before gaining a Fulbright scholarship and a Frank Knox Fellowship from Harvard University, where he obtained a further Masters degree in Law. He was a partner in the Auckland law firm Simpson Grierson and director of several listed companies until his appointment to the High Court in 1992. He was a member of the Law Commission from 1990 to 1993. Justice Blanchard was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1996 and to the Supreme Court in January 2004. He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1998 and was awarded the DCNZM (Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ) in 2005 for his services to the judiciary.
The Right Honourable Justice Tipping
Justice Andrew Tipping graduated LLM with 1st class Honours from Canterbury University in 1966. He was awarded the Canterbury District Law Society's Gold Medal and the Sir Timothy Cleary Memorial Prize. He practised as a common law partner in the Christchurch firm of Wynn Williams & Co before being appointed to the High Court bench in 1986. He was President of the Canterbury District Law Society in 1984 and a council member of the New Zealand Law Society from 1982-1984. After 11 years on the High Court he was appointed to the Court of Appeal in 1997 and became a member of the Privy Council in 1998. He has been a member of the Council of Legal Education since 1992 and its chairman since 1996. Justice Tipping was appointed to the Supreme Court from January 2004.
The Honourable Justice McGrath
Justice John McGrath graduated LLM from Victoria University of Wellington in 1968. He was as a partner in Buddle Findlay, in Wellington, until he moved to the separate bar in 1984. He became Queen's Counsel in 1987 and he was Solicitor-General between 1989 and 2000. Justice McGrath was appointed to the Court of Appeal in July 2000 and to the Supreme Court in May 2005. In January 2007 Justice McGrath was awarded the DCNZM (Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit).
The Honourable Justice Wilson
Justice William (Bill) Wilson graduated LLB from Victoria University in 1968 and LLM (Hons.) the following year. He was admitted to the Bar in February 1968 and employed by Bell Gully & Co as a barrister and solicitor from 1968-71. In 1971 he became a partner of the firm and continued in partnership when the firm merged to become Bell Gully Buddle Weir in 1984. Justice Wilson left the firm in 1996 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel. His practice was principally in the areas of corporate, banking, securities, competition and media law. Justice Wilson was a member of the Waitangi Tribunal from 1986 to 1995 and appointed a judge of the High Court and Court of Appeal in February 2007. He is based in Wellington.