The Chief Justice of the Cook Islands is the head of the

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

judiciary. They preside over the High Court of the Cook Islands and serve as a member of the

Cook Islands Court of Appeal The Court of Appeal of the Cook Islands is the superior court of record for the Cook Islands. It hears appeals from the High Court of the Cook Islands and was established by Article 56 of the Constitution of the Cook Islands. Composition an ...

. The office was established by the Cook Islands Constitution. The Chief Justice is appointed by the King's Representative on the advice of the Executive Council. They must be qualified to sit on the High Court, meaning that they must have either served as a justice of the

High Court of New Zealand The High Court of New Zealand ( mi, Te Kōti Matua o Aotearoa) is the superior court of New Zealand. It has general jurisdiction and responsibility, under the Senior Courts Act 2016, as well as the High Court Rules 2016, for the administration ...

, the

Court of Appeal of New Zealand The Court of Appeal of New Zealand is the principal intermediate appellate court of New Zealand. It is also the final appellate court for a number of matters. In practice, most appeals are resolved at this intermediate appellate level, rather t ...

, or the Supreme Court of New Zealand, or have practiced as a barrister in New Zealand or a country with an equivalent legal system for at least seven years. When the position of Chief Justice is vacant, or the holder is absent or incapacitated, the senior judge of the High Court serves as Acting Chief Justice. The Chief Justice also acts in place of the King's Representative if that position is vacant or the appointee is absent or unable to perform their duties.

List of office holders

* Sir

Gaven Donne Sir Gaven John Donne (8 May 1914 – 28 March 2010) was a New Zealand-born former Chief Justice of Samoa, Niue, the Cook Islands, Nauru and Tuvalu. Biography Donne was born in Christchurch and educated at Palmerston North Boys' High School, Ha ...

(1975–1982) * Sir Graham Speight (1982–1988) * Sir

Peter Quilliam Sir James Peter Quilliam (23 March 1920 – 17 February 2004) was a New Zealand lawyer and jurist. He served as Chief Justice of the Cook Islands and a judge of the High Court of New Zealand. Early life and family Born in New Plymouth on ...

(1988–2000) * Laurence Greig (2000–2005) * David A R Williams (2005 – 13 May 2010) * Tom Weston (from 13 May 2010 – 2016) * Sir

Hugh Williams Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (6 March 1904 – 7 December 1969) was a British actor and dramatist of Welsh descent. Early life and career Hugh Anthony Glanmor Williams (nicknamed "Tam") was born at Bexhill-on-Sea, Sussex to Hugh Dafydd Anth ...

(2016–2022) * Patrick Keane (2022—)

References

{{British dependencies chief justices, state = collapsed

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

* Law of the Cook Islands *Chief Judiciary of the Cook Islands