Thomas Eichelbaum
Encyclopedia
Sir Johann Thomas Eichelbaum, GBE, QC
(艾俊彬爵士) (born 17 May 1931) was the eleventh Chief Justice of New Zealand
.
, Germany, and his family emigrated to Wellington
, New Zealand in 1938 to escape the persecution of Jews. He was educated at Hutt Valley High School
, then attended Victoria University of Wellington
graduating with a LL.B in 1954.
in 1978. He was President of the New Zealand Law Society in 1980-1982. He was appointed a judge of the High Court of New Zealand
in 1982.
. He also investigated the reasons for New Zealand losing co-hosting rights to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Following his report, the chairman and the CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union both resigned.
In 2001, he conducted a ministerial inquiry reviewing children's evidence in the controversial Peter Ellis
case. His report, which has been widely criticised
, upheld the guilty verdicts and stands in contrast to an earlier report by retired High Court judge, Sir Thomas Thorp
. A New Zealand Law Journal editorial has stated that Eichelbaum had either not read all the children's statements (reviewing only those allowed by the trial judge) or that, "with respect, his judgement is at fault."
He was knighted a Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire (GBE) in 1989 and became a Privy Councillor in 1989. Eichelbaum is (May 2008) a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong SAR Court of Final Appeal and a part-time member of the Fiji Court of Appeal.
He is married with three adult sons and lives on the Kapiti Coast
, north of Wellington.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(艾俊彬爵士) (born 17 May 1931) was the eleventh Chief Justice of New Zealand
Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Chief Justice of New Zealand is the head of the New Zealand judiciary, and presides over the Supreme Court of New Zealand. Before the establishment of the latter court in 2004 the Chief Justice was the presiding judge in the High Court of New Zealand and was also ex officio a member of the...
.
Early life
He was born in KönigsbergKönigsberg
Königsberg was the capital of East Prussia from the Late Middle Ages until 1945 as well as the northernmost and easternmost German city with 286,666 inhabitants . Due to the multicultural society in and around the city, there are several local names for it...
, Germany, and his family emigrated to 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...
, New Zealand in 1938 to escape the persecution of Jews. He was educated at Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School
Hutt Valley High School is a state co-educational secondary school located in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. It is a uniformed school, with the uniform coming under review roughly every 5 years by the order of the Board of Trustee’s. The current principal is Ross Sinclair...
, then attended Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
graduating with a LL.B in 1954.
Judge of the High Court of New Zealand
Sir Thomas was appointed Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1978. He was President of the New Zealand Law Society in 1980-1982. He was appointed a judge of the High Court of New Zealand
High Court of New Zealand
The High Court of New Zealand is a superior court of New Zealand. It was established in 1841 and known as the Supreme Court of New Zealand until 1980....
in 1982.
Chief Justice of New Zealand
In 1989 he was appointed the Chief Justice of New Zealand. He retired from the Bench in 1999.Retirement
Since retiring as a judge, Sir Thomas has conducted investigations on a number of controversial topics. He chaired the 2000-2001 Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic ModificationReport of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification
Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification was published in 2001 by the government appointed Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.Thomas Eichelbaum chaired the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.-External links:...
. He also investigated the reasons for New Zealand losing co-hosting rights to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Following his report, the chairman and the CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union both resigned.
In 2001, he conducted a ministerial inquiry reviewing children's evidence in the controversial Peter Ellis
Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis
Peter Hugh McGregor Ellis is a former Christchurch child care worker who has been at the centre of one of New Zealand's most enduring judicial controversies. In June 1993 Ellis was found guilty in the High Court on 16 counts of sexual offences involving children in his care at the Christchurch...
case. His report, which has been widely criticised
, upheld the guilty verdicts and stands in contrast to an earlier report by retired High Court judge, Sir Thomas Thorp
Thomas Thorp
Sir Thomas Murray Thorp KNZM is a retired New Zealand judge.-Professional career:From 1963 to 1979, he was the Crown Solicitor in Gisborne...
. A New Zealand Law Journal editorial has stated that Eichelbaum had either not read all the children's statements (reviewing only those allowed by the trial judge) or that, "with respect, his judgement is at fault."
He was knighted a Knight Grand Cross of the British Empire (GBE) in 1989 and became a Privy Councillor in 1989. Eichelbaum is (May 2008) a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong SAR Court of Final Appeal and a part-time member of the Fiji Court of Appeal.
He is married with three adult sons and lives on the Kapiti Coast
Kapiti Coast
The Kapiti Coast is the name of the section of the coast of the south-western North Island of New Zealand that is north of Wellington and opposite Kapiti Island. It falls under the jurisdiction of the Wellington Regional Council...
, north of Wellington.