Post by Kiwi Frontline on Dec 27, 2017 16:11:19 GMT 12
THE COURT OF APPEAL’S NEW JUDGE JOE WILLIAMS: COULD HE BE NEW ZEALAND’S FIRST CHIEF JUSTICE
And he raises the possibility of being the country’s first Maori Chief Justice, following the retirement of incumbent Dame Sian Elias.
Justice Joe Williams has been the chief judge of the Māori Land Court, chaired the Waitangi Tribunal, a justice of the High Court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
In an interview on Radio New Zealand, he said he was inspired by early contemporaries at university including Māori lawyer Annette Skykes and Shane Jones.
“I discovered the idea of aboriginal title, of aboriginal self governance which was very mainstream in Canada … and brought them back to New Zealand.”
Justice Williams worked on major treaty claims in his role on the Waitangi Tribunal such as the Wai 262 claim which looked at law reform affecting Māori culture and identity.
As historical claims come to a close, he said the next issue was working out how the treaty fitted into modern law policy.
“I think there’s a big conversation to be had both within the community and within the government about the role of a treaty specialist tribunal once historical claims are completed,” he told RNZ.......
www.lawfuel.com/blog/justice_joe_williams/
And he raises the possibility of being the country’s first Maori Chief Justice, following the retirement of incumbent Dame Sian Elias.
Justice Joe Williams has been the chief judge of the Māori Land Court, chaired the Waitangi Tribunal, a justice of the High Court before his elevation to the Court of Appeal.
In an interview on Radio New Zealand, he said he was inspired by early contemporaries at university including Māori lawyer Annette Skykes and Shane Jones.
“I discovered the idea of aboriginal title, of aboriginal self governance which was very mainstream in Canada … and brought them back to New Zealand.”
Justice Williams worked on major treaty claims in his role on the Waitangi Tribunal such as the Wai 262 claim which looked at law reform affecting Māori culture and identity.
As historical claims come to a close, he said the next issue was working out how the treaty fitted into modern law policy.
“I think there’s a big conversation to be had both within the community and within the government about the role of a treaty specialist tribunal once historical claims are completed,” he told RNZ.......
www.lawfuel.com/blog/justice_joe_williams/