Willam Young (Judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Gillow Gibbes Austen Young, KNZM, QC
(born 14 April 1952) is a Supreme Court
Judge, and former President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand
. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson
in June 2010, taking effect from 1 July.
(secondary school) in Christchurch, University of Canterbury
(LLB (Hons)) and University of Cambridge
(PhD) in the UK. After obtaining his PhD, Young worked in Christchurch for the law firm Young Hunter, before becoming a barrister sole in 1988. Young was made a Queen's Counsel
in 1991 and did several high profile cases including the Winebox Inquiry
of the 1990s.
Judge in Christchurch in 1997, a Court of Appeal Judge when the Supreme Court
was created in 2004, and to the position of President in January 2006. Young was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court with effect from 1 July 2010.
He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
(DCNZM) in June 2007, and knighted in August 2009 when the new National Government reinstated knighthoods.
educational programme and, since appointment to the bench, with the Institute of Judicial Studies, being the primary author of its Criminal Jury Trials Bench Book. He wrote "Summing Up to Juries - What Jury Research says about Current Rules and Practice" [2003] Crim LR 665 and co-authored a chapter in Witness Testimony: Psychological, Investigative and Evidential Perspectives (Oxford University Press 26 October 2006).
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...
(born 14 April 1952) is a 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...
Judge, and former President of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand
Court of Appeal of New Zealand
The Court of Appeal of New Zealand, located in Wellington, is New Zealand’s principal intermediate appellate court. In practice, most appeals are resolved at this intermediate appellate level, rather than in the Supreme Court...
. He was appointed to the Supreme Court by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson
Chris Finlayson
Christopher Francis Finlayson is a New Zealand lawyer, politician and Member of Parliament, representing the National Party. He is a Cabinet minister and the Attorney-General of New Zealand...
in June 2010, taking effect from 1 July.
Education and early career
Young was educated at Christ's CollegeChrist's College, Canterbury
Christ's College, Christchurch is an independent, Anglican, secondary, day and boarding school for boys, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand....
(secondary school) in Christchurch, University of Canterbury
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...
(LLB (Hons)) and University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
(PhD) in the UK. After obtaining his PhD, Young worked in Christchurch for the law firm Young Hunter, before becoming a barrister sole in 1988. Young was made a Queen's Counsel
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...
in 1991 and did several high profile cases including the Winebox Inquiry
Winebox Inquiry
The Winebox Inquiry was an inquiry undertaken in New Zealand to investigate claims of corruption and incompetence in the Serious Fraud Office and Inland Revenue Department ....
of the 1990s.
Judge
Young was appointed a High CourtHigh 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....
Judge in Christchurch in 1997, a Court of Appeal Judge when 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...
was created in 2004, and to the position of President in January 2006. Young was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court with effect from 1 July 2010.
He was made a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
(DCNZM) in June 2007, and knighted in August 2009 when the new National Government reinstated knighthoods.
Non-judicial involvement
While a barrister, Young was involved with the New Zealand Law SocietyNew Zealand Law Society
The New Zealand Law Society is the parent body for barristers and solicitors in New Zealand. It was established in 1869, and regulates all lawyers practising in New Zealand...
educational programme and, since appointment to the bench, with the Institute of Judicial Studies, being the primary author of its Criminal Jury Trials Bench Book. He wrote "Summing Up to Juries - What Jury Research says about Current Rules and Practice" [2003] Crim LR 665 and co-authored a chapter in Witness Testimony: Psychological, Investigative and Evidential Perspectives (Oxford University Press 26 October 2006).
Styles and Honours
Formal:- Dr William Young (1978–1991)
- Dr William Young QC (1991–1997)
- The Hon. Justice William Young QC (1997–2007)
- The Hon. Justice William Young DCNZM QC (2007–2009)
- The Hon. Justice Sir William Young KNZM QC (2009–present)