Michael Myers (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Michael Myers, GCMG
, KC, PC
, (7 September 1873 – 8 April 1950) was the sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
of New Zealand
from 1929 to 1946 and served occasionally as Administrator
of New Zealand from 1930 to 1941. He was the first person of Jewish descent to hold this position. He sat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1936.
Born in Motueka
, Myers was educated at Thorndon School
and Wellington College
, and gained his LL B
from Canterbury College
in 1897. Afterwards he was admitted to the Inner Temple
.
Myers went to the 1945 San Francisco conference that produced the United Nations
, and participated in the drafting of the constitution of the International Court of Justice
.
He resigned on 6 September 1945, but was reappointed for one year, and then resigned on 7 August 1946.
Myers died in Wellington
in 1950. He had been made King's Counsel in 1922, and G.C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, KC, PC
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, (7 September 1873 – 8 April 1950) was the sixth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court of New Zealand
The Supreme Court of New Zealand is the highest court and the court of last resort in New Zealand, having formally come into existence on 1 January 2004. The court sat for the first time on 1 July 2004. It replaced the right of appeal to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, based in London...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
from 1929 to 1946 and served occasionally as Administrator
Administrator of the Government
An Administrator in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General...
of New Zealand from 1930 to 1941. He was the first person of Jewish descent to hold this position. He sat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in 1936.
Born in Motueka
Motueka
The town of Motueka in the South Island of New Zealand lies close to the mouth of the Motueka River, on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is, after Nelson and Richmond, the third largest centre in the Tasman Region, with a population of 7125...
, Myers was educated at Thorndon School
Thorndon School
Thorndon School is a New Zealand primary and intermediate school located in the suburb of Thorndon, Wellington, New Zealand. It was first established in 1852. the principal is Bill Sutton.Notable alumni include Judge Michael Myers....
and Wellington College
Wellington College (New Zealand)
Wellington College is a state secondary school for boys in Mount Victoria in Wellington, New Zealand.-History:Wellington College opened in 1867 as Wellington Grammar School in Woodward Street, though Sir George Grey gave the school a deed of endowment in 1853. In 1874 it opened at its present...
, and gained his LL B
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from Canterbury College
University of Canterbury
The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...
in 1897. Afterwards he was admitted to the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
Myers went to the 1945 San Francisco conference that produced the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, and participated in the drafting of the constitution of the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
.
He resigned on 6 September 1945, but was reappointed for one year, and then resigned on 7 August 1946.
Myers died in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
in 1950. He had been made King's Counsel in 1922, and G.C.M.G.