Ellen France

The Honourable Dame Ellen France DNZM
France in 2016
Justice of the Supreme Court
Incumbent
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. Thomas, Rachel. "Damehoods for Karen Sewell QSO and Justice Ellen France". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
2. Finlayson, Christopher (20 June 2014). "New Supreme Court and Court of Appeal appointments" (Press release). Wellington: Government of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
3. "The Judges of the Court of Appeal". Courts of New Zealand. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
4. "Milestone for Court of Appeal – an all women bench". The New Zealand Herald. 7 August 2015. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
5. "Queen's 90th Birthday honours list 2016". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
6. 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.
7. "Appealing a court decision chances are it will go before a France". Stuff/Fairfax. 18 June 2022.