NEW CHIEF JUSTICE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 May 1929, Page 2

NEW CHIEF JUSTICE

A NOTABLE CAREER-. Mr Michael Myers, K.C., was horn at Motueka, Nelson province, in 1873. He is a son of the late Mr Judah Myers. He married in 1899 Miss Estelle Salom, daughter of the Hon. Maurice 'Salom, fof Adelaide, SJuth Australia. Mr Myers was educated at Thorndon School atul Wellington College. and took his LL.B. degree at Canterbury College in. 1897. He was for many years a member of the fiim of Bell, Gully and Myers, Wellington, which ho left in 1922 on his appointment as K.C. Mr Myers has always been regarded as a leader of the Bar in New Zealand. His- career as a student was a brilliant one, and later be was appointed Law examiner to tlio University of New Zealand. Soon aftci beginning his career as a solicitor ho made himself eminent by his participation in important cases, one of the first of these being the alleged deliberate stranding of the steam yacht Ariadne on the coast near Timaru in 1902, in which ho "was briefed by the Crown. “As an advocate be was distinguished by bis courage and industry.’’ said a member of the legal profession in Christchurch. “You could lie certain that any case in which he was engaged would <be thoroughly worked up. and that no stone would he left unturned. Whatever adverse view might be taken by the tribunal before which he was pleading he never lacked the courage to present the contrary view as strongly as was possible. As a cross-examiner lie was at his best. It

was useless for a witness to attempt to cover up the truth, for he was a ruthless oross-examiner. Indeed, his ruthlessness tended to make him enemies. “As a lawyer he was easily given pride of place in New Zealand aftei the late Chief Justice went to the Bench. Apart from the satisfaction given to the legal profession, his appointment. should please the comnicieial section of '.the community, for. since his work has in in greatly among commercial matters, his knowledge of the working of the law of commeice is extraordinarily wide, and should lie of great assistance to him on the Bench. “As an advocate his greatest achievement was when he took six eases before tho (Privy 'Council and won ■ them all. Three )of these (were contested against the pick of .England’s counsel, one of them against Sir John Simon, the acknowledged leader of the law in Britain. In the case.of the Distributors appeal, Sir John Simon was briefed by the Crown, and the defence was to lie led hv Mr Maugham, who has since been laised to the English Bench. Shortly before the hearing -Mr Maugham announced his inability to appear, and, at two days’ notice, Mr Myers worked up and won the case. In addition to lus other qualtitios, his years of experience as Crown Prosecutor at Wellington have thoroughly acquainted him with the criminal side of the law.” Mr Myers is the .fifth holder of the. position of Chief Justice, his predecessors having been Sir George Arney, Sir James Prendergnst, Sir Robert Stout and Sir Charles Skerreit. Mr Myers adds another to the nu.m----l)or 'of •members of the Jewish faith who have distinguished themselves as lawyers in the British Empire. Lord Reading was Chief Justice of (England and later Viceroy of India and Mr Justice Isaacs is one of the most outstanding members of the 'Court of | Appeal in Australia.