Retired Judge awarded Higher Doctorate

Retired Judge awarded Higher Doctorate
 

A retired Judge who made a significant impact in the field of law has been awarded a Higher Doctorate from Victoria University.

The Rt Hon Sir Edmund Thomas KNZM QC, was awarded a Doctorate of Laws degree (LLD) in recognition of his contribution to jurisprudence.

“Sir Edmund has made a substantial contribution to legal scholarship and debate,” says Dean of Victoria’s Faculty of Graduate Research, Professor Laurie Bauer.

“The three examiners unanimously agreed that the contribution he has made is original and prestigious, and merits the award of Higher Doctorate.”

A Higher Doctorate is awarded for a substantial body of published work demonstrating excellence in research or creative achievement. The award confirms that the candidate is a distinguished leader in their field.  

The examiners commented on Sir Edmund's international reputation as a leading thinker and writer in matters relating to the judicial process, and the excellence of the scholarship displayed in the works examined.

The core publication submitted in his portfolio of published works for the degree was his book The Judicial Process: Realism, Pragmatism, Practical Reasoning and Principles (Cambridge University Press, 2005). 

The award will be conferred at Victoria’s graduation ceremony in December.

About the Rt Hon Sir Edmund Thomas

Sir Edmund is a retired Judge of the Court of Appeal and former Acting Judge of the Supreme Court. In the course of his lifetime, Sir Edmund has published over 60 articles on a wide range on legal subjects A number reflect his lifelong interest in jurisprudence. He has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Law School and a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University, London University, the Australian National University and Cambridge University. He is presently a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the University of Auckland’s Law School.

Sir Edmund's book The Judicial Process: Realism, Pragmatism, Practical Reasoning and Principles was awarded the J F Northey Annual Law Book Award by the Legal Research Foundation for the best legal book published by a New Zealand-based author in 2005.

About Victoria University Higher Doctorates

Victoria University of Wellington Higher Doctorates which may be awarded are: Doctor of Commerce (DCom), Doctor of Literature (DLitt), Doctor of Music (DMus), Doctor of Laws (LLD) and Doctor of Science (DSc). 

Applicants apply for a Higher Doctorate, rather than enrol. An applicant must be a graduate of Victoria or an academic staff member, or admitted ad eundem statum, or have some other long-standing connection with the University. They cannot apply until at least five years after graduation in the qualifying degree. The submitted work goes firstly to a committee which considers it and decides whether or not it will proceed to examination. The submitted material is then examined by a panel of examiners who are considered to be authorities of international standing in the relevant area. 

ends
 

© Scoop Media