Christchurch lawyer appointed judge

Press, 22 July 1989, Page 9

Christchurch lawyer appointed judge

A Christchurch lawyer, Mr Murray Abbott, has been appointed a District Court judge to sit in New Plymouth. Mr Abbott will be sworn in at Christchurch on September 1. He was educated at Wanganui Collegiate School and the University of Canterbury. He gained his Bachelor of Laws (Honours) in 1971 and was admitted to the Bar in 1973.

He joined Harper Pascoe and Co. (now Anthony Harper) in 1973, becoming a partner in 1976.

Mr Abbott was chairman of the New Zealand Legal Association in 1976 and 1977. He has been actively involved in a wide range of professional organisations, including the duty solicitor committee, the common law committee, the seminar com-

mittee, and the family law committee of the Canterbury District Law Society. He has also been a member of the Family Courts Association Committee. He is a member of the Canterbury District Legal Aid committee and of the Maritime Law Association of Australia and New Zealand.

From 1977 to 1980 he was a part-time lecturer with the University of Canterbury’s law faculty. Another University of Canterbury graduate has also been made a judge.

Mrs Anne Elvera Gaskell graduated from the University with a B.A. in 1969. In 1980 she gained a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Victoria University, and was admitted to the Bar in 1981. She has been appointed as a District Court judge to Wellington.