Justice Joseph Victor Williams has become the first Māori judge of the Supreme Court. Photo / File
Justice Joseph Victor Williams has become the first Māori judge of the Supreme Court.
Justice Williams, of Ngāti Pūkenga and Te Arawa (Waitaha, Tapuika), replaces current Supreme Court judge Justice Sir William Young, who is chairing the Royal Commission of Inquiry Christchurch mosque attacks.
In 1988, Justice Williams established the
first unit specialising in Māori issues in a major New Zealand law firm at Kensington Swan.
He became a partner there in 1992, before leaving in 1994 to co‑found Walters Williams & Co in Auckland and Wellington.
In 1999 Justice Williams was appointed Chief Judge of the Māori Land Court.
