The Attorney-General, Margaret Wilson, has announced the appointment of Dunedin Barrister and Solicitor Annis Somerville as a Family Court Judge. Judge Somerville will be sworn in at Dunedin District Court on 2 March 2001 and will sit in Tauranga after judicial training, in about three weeks.

Judge Somerville has been in sole general practice specialising in family law and the youth court since 1987. Judge Somerville has had considerable involvement in the Law Society at both national and local levels, including holding office as President of the Otago District Law Society, Chair of the Family Law Section Executive and convenor of various committees. She is currently a member of the Law Practitioners' Disciplinary Tribunal.

Judge Somerville is a fellow of Knox College and Vice Chair of Knox College and Salmond Hall Council. She is an adviser to the Dunedin Community Law Centre, a sexual harassment assessor for the Presbyterian Church, Honorary Solicitor for the Otago Foster Parents' Association and a management committee member of Nga Toko Amo Education and Wellness Centre.

Judge Somerville has also had experience as an intermediate school teacher, and as owner/operator of a manufacturing and retailing business.

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