The Honourable Dame Ellen France | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) France in 2016 | |
| Justice of the Supreme Court | |
| Assumed office 22 July 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sir John McGrath |
| President of the Court of Appeal | |
| In office 2014–2016 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Mark O'Regan |
| Succeeded by | Stephen Kós |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ellen Dolour Larkin 1956 (age 67–68) |
| Spouse | Simon France |
| Alma mater | University of Auckland Queen's University |
Dame Ellen Dolour France DNZM (née Larkin; born 1956) is a New Zealand jurist. She is currently a justice of the Supreme Court, and was previously the president of the Court of Appeal.
Biography
Ellen Dolour Larkin was born to parents who were both teachers.[1] She graduated LLB from the University of Auckland in 1981, and obtained her masters from Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, in 1983.[2] From 1982, she worked as a solicitor for the Auckland practice of Subritzky, Tetley Jones & Way.[2]
From 1984, France was a legal adviser in the Department of Justice Law Reform Division, followed by work for the Crown Law Office.[3]
In 2002, France was appointed to the High Court in Auckland. She received her appointment as a judge to the Court of Appeal in June 2006.[2] She was appointed president of the Court of Appeal of New Zealand with effect from 1 September 2014, succeeding Sir Mark O'Regan.[2] She made history in August 2015 when the Appeal Court bench was made up by three women when she sat with Justice Christine French and Justice Helen Winkelmann.[4]
In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, France was appointed a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the judiciary.[1][5]
France's late husband, Simon France, was a judge of the Court of Appeal until just prior to his death in 2023.[6] They met in their first year at Auckland University Law School in the late 1970s.[1][7]
References
- 1 2 3 Thomas, Rachel. "Damehoods for Karen Sewell QSO and Justice Ellen France". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Finlayson, Christopher (20 June 2014). "New Supreme Court and Court of Appeal appointments" (Press release). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ "The Judges of the Court of Appeal". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ "Milestone for Court of Appeal – an all women bench". The New Zealand Herald. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ↑ "Queen's 90th Birthday honours list 2016". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ↑ Winkelmann, Dame Helen. "Chief Justice pays tribute to Simon France" (PDF). Courts of New Zealand. The Office of the Chief Justice. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
- ↑ "Appealing a court decision chances are it will go before a France". Stuff/Fairfax. 18 June 2022.