Ian Barker (jurist)

Sir Richard Ian Barker QC (born 17 March 1934) is a New Zealand jurist. His legal career spanned over six decades. He was a lawyer for 20 years, followed by 20 years as a judge at the High Court, before he worked for another two decades as a mediator and arbitrator. Barker was involved in the law reform in the Cook Islands.

Sir Ian Barker

QC
Barker in 2018
Born
Richard Ian Barker

(1934-03-17) 17 March 1934
Taumarunui, New Zealand
EducationUniversity of Auckland
OccupationJurist
Years active1958–2019
Known forHigh Court judge
Cook Islands law reform
Spouse(s)
Mary Christine Allardyce
​
​
(m. 1965)​

Early life and family

Barker was born in Taumarunui in 1934. His parents were Kate Dorothy (née Humphrys) and Archibald Henry Barker. He received his education at a primary school in Taumarunui (St Patrick's Convent) before attending boarding school in Auckland (Sacred Heart College). He went to the University of Auckland and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws in 1958.[1][2]

In 1965, he married Mary Christine Allardyce. They were to have two sons and three daughters.[1]

Barker was admitted to the bar in the same year, in 1958, that he graduated. He was a barrister and solicitor from then onwards. From 1960 to 1969, he was a partner at Morpeth Gould and Co in Auckland. Between 1969 and 1976, he was a solicitor working by himself. During this time, in 1973, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel. In 1976, he was called to the High Court. He retired from the court in 1997 and had served six years as an executive judge.[1][2]

After finishing as a judge in New Zealand, Barker was a judge at the Cook Islands Court of Appeal. He sat as a judge in appeal courts in Fiji, the Pitcairn Islands (which is held in Auckland), Samoa, Vanuatu, and Kiribati. Barker retired from legal work in 2019.[2]

Since the 1980s, Barker has been a visiting fellow and lecturer at law schools in Australia, Canada, and England (including Wolfson College, Cambridge).[1][2] Barker was one of the founding members of Bankside Chambers in Auckland.[2]

Honours

Barker was appointed a Knight Bachelor in the 1994 New Year Honours.[3] He received an honorary doctorate (LLD) from his alma mater in 1999.[4]

References
  1. Lambert, Max; Traue, James Edward; Taylor, Alister (1991). Who's Who in New Zealand, 1991 (12th ed.). Auckland: Octopus. p. 31. ISBN 9780790001302. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
  2. Butcher, Nick (7 June 2019). "Sir Ian Barker QC retires after more than 60 years in the law". New Zealand Law Society. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  3. "No. 53528". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 31 December 1993. p. 33.
  4. "Honorary Graduates". University of Auckland. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
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