New Zealand judge, and 12th Chief Justice of New Zealand
The Right Honourable
Dame Sian Elias
GNZM KC
12th Chief Justice of New Zealand
In office 17 May 1999 – 13 March 2019
Nominated by
Jenny Shipley
Appointed by
Sir Michael Hardie Boys
Preceded by
Thomas Eichelbaum
Succeeded by
Helen Winkelmann
Administrator of the Government (Acting Governor-General)
In office 31 August 2016 – 28 September 2016
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Prime Minister
John Key
In office 23 August 2011 – 31 August 2011
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Prime Minister
John Key
In office 4 August 2006 – 23 August 2006
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Prime Minister
Helen Clark
In office 22 March 2001 – 4 April 2001
Monarch
Elizabeth II
Prime Minister
Helen Clark
Personal details
Born
Sian Seerpoohi Elias
(1949-03-13) 13 March 1949 (age 75) London, England
Spouse
Hugh Fletcher
Children
Two
Alma mater
University of Auckland Stanford Law School
Profession
Barrister
Dame Sian Seerpoohi EliasGNZM KC PC[1] (born 13 March 1949) was the 12th chief justice of New Zealand,[2] and was therefore the most senior member of the country's judiciary. She was the presiding judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand and on several occasions acted as administrator of the Government.
^Department of the Prime Minister & Cabinet Archived 13 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
^"Chief Justice - retired March 2019". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
Dame Sian Seerpoohi Elias GNZM KC PC (born 13 March 1949) was the 12th chief justice of New Zealand, and was therefore the most senior member of the country's...
Elias (/ɪˈlaɪəs/ il-EYE-əs; Ancient Greek: Ἠλίας, romanized: Elías) is the Greek equivalent of Elijah (Hebrew: אֵלִיָּהוּ, romanized: ʾĒlīyyāhū; Syriac:...
second woman to hold the position, following her immediate predecessor, SianElias. Winkelmann was born in 1962 to Kathleen Winkelmann (née Papich), of Croatian...
(1990–1994), judge of the First Circuit Court of Appeals (1980–1990) SianElias (J.S.M.]] 1972), 1st Female and 12th chief justice of New Zealand (1999–2019)...
Winkelmann, who was appointed on 14 March 2019 to replace the Rt Hon Dame SianElias, who had reached mandatory retirement at age 70. From 1841 to 1957, the...
officially sworn in as the 21st governor-general by Chief Justice Dame SianElias on 28 September. The swearing-in ceremony included a Māori pōwhiri, a...
Justice posts on supreme courts: former Chief Justice of New Zealand SianElias, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and the late...
Service and subject to a formal investigation, led by future Chief Justice SianElias. The fire was a trigger for major reforms of the service; direct consequences...
raid was legal and ordered Dotcom to pay $35,000 costs. Chief Justice SianElias dissented, saying there had been a miscarriage of justice as the search...
of Representatives, see above) Former Chief Justices The Rt Hon. Dame SianElias GNZM KC (17 May 1999 – 13 March 2019) Members of the Privy Council The...
Mateparae (2011–2016) Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017) Chief Justice Dame SianElias Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013)...
Mateparae (2011–2016) Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017) Chief Justice Dame SianElias Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013)...
Mateparae (2011–2016) Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017) Chief Justice Dame SianElias Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013)...
Her opinions often cite foreign and international law. According to SianElias, they are regarded as authoritative by judges in many common law countries...
Future – Peter Dunne Māori Party – Tariana Turia Chief Justice — SianElias Dame SianElias Mayor of Auckland – John Banks to Dick Hubbard Mayor of Tauranga...
Mateparae (2011–2016) Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017) Chief Justice Dame SianElias Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013)...
several famous Australians and New Zealanders: Saul Griffith in 2022 SianElias, first female Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of New Zealand, in 2019...
Mateparae (2011–2016) Dame Patsy Reddy (2016–2017) Chief Justice Dame SianElias Leader of the Opposition Phil Goff (2008–2011) David Shearer (2011–2013)...
to penal populism by sensationalising violent crime. In July 2009 Dame SianElias, the Chief Justice, argued against what she described as the "punitive...
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