13 Facts About Judith Potter

Judith Potter spent much of her childhood in Mount Roskill and Epsom.

Judith Potter was educated at Epsom Girls' Grammar School, before studying at the University of Auckland from 1960 to 1964, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws degree in 1965.

Judith Potter became a senior partner at law firm, Kensington Swan.

Judith Potter is the former President of the Auckland District Law Society and was the first woman president of the New Zealand Law Society, holding the position from 1991 to 1994.

On 20 March 1997 Judith Potter was appointed as a judge of the High Court of New Zealand Judith Potter has presided over several high-profile cases in her 15 years on the bench.

In 1998, Judith Potter convicted and sentenced the girl to 4 years.

When this conviction was overturned on grounds the judge had convicted Miss Jessop despite her not entering a plea, Judith Potter presided over the retrial and sentenced the girl to 4 years and eight months.

In 2000 Judith Potter issued an influential ruling balancing the rights of those alleging harassment and the rights of freedom of expression in Beadle v Allen.

In 2007 Judith Potter jailed website editor Vince Siemer for his continual breaches of a High Court injunction.

Judith Potter has been criticised in the media for sentences which were considered excessively lenient.

On 31 December 2012 Judith Potter retired from the bench in New Zealand and accepted an appointment to the High Court of the Cook Islands.

Judith Potter was the second woman to become a judge in the Cook Islands following Christine Grice.

In 1990, Judith Potter received the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal, and in 1993 she was awarded the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal.