Christine Mary Grice CNZM is a New Zealand lawyer and jurist, who was the first female judge in the Cook Islands, and the second female president of the New Zealand Law Society.

Christine Grice
Justice of the High Court
Assumed office
20 December 2017
President of the New Zealand Law Society
In office
1999–2003
Preceded byIan Haynes
Succeeded byChristopher Darlow
Personal details
Born
Christine Mary Grice
Alma materUniversity of Canterbury
ProfessionLawyer, judge

Career

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Grice studied at University of Canterbury for a Bachelor of Laws degree, and was admitted as a barrister within the High Court of New Zealand in 1981.[1] She became the first female judge in the Cook Islands in June 2007.[2][3] As part of the High Court of the Cook Islands, she normally presides on cases for two weeks each year, spending the remaining time in New Zealand.[3]

Within law societies, she began being a member of the council of the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) in 1992, and joined its board in the following year. In 1997 she became vice-president,[1] and served as president of the NZLS between 1999 and 2003.[4] She was the second female president in the organisation's history, following Judith Potter who was president between 1991 and 1993;[1] and who was the second female judge in the Cook Islands after Grice.[5] Grice succeeded Ian Haynes in April 1999. Following her three-year term,[1] she became executive director of the society.[6]

In the 2004 New Year Honours Grice was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the legal profession.[7]

On 20 December 2017 she was appointed Justice of the High Court of New Zealand.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Christine Grice – Next President Of The NZ Law Soc". Scoop. 4 October 1999. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  2. ^ "New Chief Justice for Cook Islands". New Zealand Law Society. 1 December 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b "Justice Grice back". Cook Islands News. 28 October 2012. Archived from the original on 4 October 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  4. ^ "New Zealand Law Society Presidents". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Justice Judith Potter appointed to High Court of Cook Islands". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  6. ^ Schroder, Sophie (8 October 2014). "Exclusive interview: Meet New Zealand's new Minister of Justice". NZ Lawyer. Retrieved 30 November 2017.
  7. ^ "New Year honours list 2004". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2003. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Appointment of Judge to the High Court". The Beehive. 20 December 2017.