The Honourable Sir
Hugh Williams
KNZM KC
Williams in 2010
7th Chief Justice of the Cook Islands
In office
2016–2022
Preceded byTom Weston
Succeeded byPatrick Keane
Personal details
Born
John Hugh Williams

(1939-09-23) 23 September 1939
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington

Sir John Hugh Williams KNZM KC (born 23 September 1939), generally known as Hugh Williams, is a former president of the New Zealand Electoral Commission and a retired judge of the High Court of New Zealand. From 2016 to 2022 he was Chief Justice of the Cook Islands.

Early life

Williams was educated at Wellington College and Gisborne Boys' High School, and graduated with an LLM (Hon) degree from Victoria University of Wellington.[1]

Career

Williams was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1988 and a High Court Justice in 1997. He was the Senior Puisne Judge and was a Master (Associate Judge) of the High Court for 6 previous years. He was the longest serving Judge based at the High Court of New Zealand at Auckland for many years, until he retired on 22 September 2009.

Williams was the Criminal List Judge for Auckland, and presided over many high-profile trials, including the 2007 trials of Darin Gardner and Roger Kahui.[2][3]

Williams was Chancellor of Massey University from 1990 to 1997, and a city councillor for Palmerston North City from 1983 to 1989. He is a former president of the New Zealand Law Society, and a current trustee of the Kea Conservation Trust.[4] In 2009, he was appointed president of the Electoral Commission and succeeded Andrew McGechan.[5] In 2010, he became chair of the new Electoral Commission.[6]

After serving from 2009 as a Cook Islands High Court judge he was appointed in 2016 Chief Justice of the Cook Islands.[7] He retired as Chief Justice in December 2022 and was replaced by Patrick Keane.[8][9]

Honours

Williams in his capacity as Chancellor of Massey University with New Zealand author, Janet Frame. 1993

Williams was conferred an honorary doctorate (DLit) by Massey University in 1998.[10] In the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours, Williams was appointed an Additional Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services as a judge.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Tiffany, Martin (16 June 2010). "Williams knighted in Queen's honours". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Heated scenes after man found guilty of car murders". New Zealand Herald. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Serial rapist Kahui jailed indefinitely". Stuff. 12 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "Our Team". Kea Conservation Trust. Retrieved 18 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Power, Simon (9 November 2009). "Electoral Commission president appointed" (Press release). Wellington: New Zealand Government. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "The Board of the Electoral Commission". Electoral Commission. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "New Chief Justice for Cook Islands". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Media Release: Judicial Appointments". Ministry of Justice. 6 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  9. ↑ Al Williams (10 December 2022). "Retiring Chief Justice on his time here, suggestions for law reform". Cook Islands News. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Honorary graduates". Massey University. Archived from the original on 25 April 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  11. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2010". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
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