Hon David Parker

Attorney-General

20 December 2017

MEDIA STATEMENT

Appointment of Judge of the Court of Appeal

The Honourable Justice Joseph Victor Williams has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney-General David Parker announced today.

Justice Williams graduated with an LLB from Victoria University in 1986 and joined the faculty as a junior lecturer in law.

He graduated with an LLM (Hons) from the University of British Columbia in 1988. In 1988 his Honour commenced employment with Kensington Swan, subsequently establishing the first unit specialising in Māori issues in a major New Zealand law firm.

He also developed a large environmental practice. Justice Williams became a partner at Kensington Swan in 1992, leaving in 1994 to cofound the new firm of Walters Williams & Co in Auckland and Wellington.

In 1999 Justice Williams was appointed Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court. The following year, he was appointed acting Chairperson of the Waitangi Tribunal, a position to which he was permanently appointed in 2004.

Justice Williams’ tribal affiliations are Ngāti Pūkenga and Te Arawa (Waitaha, Tapuika).

Justice Williams was appointed as a Judge of the High Court in 2008.

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