Chief Justice notes passing of Sir Ronald Davison
Office of the chief Justice
6 July 2015
Chief Justice notes passing of Sir Ronald Davison
Chief Justice Dame
Sian Elias notes with regret the passing of Sir Ronald
Davison GBE, CMG, QC who died on Thursday aged 94.
Chief Justice between 1978 and 1989, Sir Ronald was one of the last remaining members of the New Zealand judiciary who had served in the Second World War.
“Perhaps this background
influenced his strongly held belief in the importance of
protecting the legal rights of individuals and minority
groups, and that the judiciary must strive to remain in tune
with responsible public opinion,” Dame Sian said.
As
Chief Justice, Sir Ronald had been responsible for
overseeing significant and widespread reform of New
Zealand’s justice system.
Dame Sian said changes introduced during Sir Ronald’s tenure included the renaming of the Supreme Court as the High Court, Magistrates' courts becoming District Courts, and the introduction of new High Court rules and court management systems.
“The years when he was Chief Justice marked a period of active change to New Zealand’s justice system, and indeed helped bring it into the modern era.
“Sir Ronald’s contribution to the New Zealand legal landscape was immense, and his legacy continues to be experienced by anyone coming into contact with today’s court processes,” Dame Sian said.
ENDS