Christine Grice

Grice studied at University of Canterbury for a Bachelor of Laws degree, and was admitted as a barrister within the High Court of New Zealand in 1981.^[1] She became the first female judge in the Cook Islands in June 2007.^[2][3] As part of the High Court of the Cook Islands, she normally presides on cases for two weeks each year, spending the remaining time in New Zealand.^[3]

Within law societies, she began being a member of the council of the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) in 1992, and joined its board in the following year. In 1997 she became vice-president,^[1] and served as president of the NZLS between 1999 and 2003.^[4] She was the second female president in the organisation's history, following Judith Potter who was president between 1991 and 1993;^[1] and who was the second female judge in the Cook Islands after Grice.^[5] Grice succeeded Ian Haynes in April 1999. Following her three-year term,^[1] she became executive director of the society.^[6]

In the 2004 New Year Honours Grice was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the legal profession.^[7]

On 20 December 2017 she was appointed Justice of the High Court of New Zealand.^[8]