The Judges of the Supreme Court
The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice
The Honourable Justice McGrath
The Honourable Justice William Young
The Honourable Justice Glazebrook
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 Honourable Justice McGrath
Justice John McGrath graduated LLM from Victoria University of Wellington in 1968. He was 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 2007 Justice McGrath was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The appointment was redesignated Knight Companion of that Order in 2009.
The Honourable Justice William Young
Justice William Young graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury and later gained a doctorate from Cambridge University. He joined the Christchurch firm of R A Young Hunter and Co in 1978, leaving in 1988 to practise as a barrister. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1991, to the High Court in 1997 and to the Court of Appeal in January 2004.
Justice William Young became President of the Court of Appeal in February 2006. In June 2007, he was awarded the DCNZM (Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services as President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand. Justice William Young was redesignated a knight companion of that order in 2009.
Justice William Young was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court with effect from 1 July 2010.
The Honourable Justice Glazebrook
Justice Susan Glazebrook has an MA (1st Class Hons), an LLB (Hons) and a Dip. Bus (Finance) from the University of Auckland and a D.Phil from the University of Oxford in French legal history. Before being appointed to the High Court in June 2000, she was a partner in law firm Simpson Grierson and a member of various commercial boards and government advisory committees. She served as President of the Inter-Pacific Bar Association in 1998. She was appointed to the Supreme Court on 6 August, 2012.
