Christina Inglis is the first female judge to receive the accolade
Te Herenga Waka | Victoria University of Wellington has awarded an honorary doctorate to Employment Court Chief Judge Christina Inglis – the first female judge to be thus recognised.
According to Chancellor John Allen, the award “recognises Christina’s contribution to the law and judiciary, particularly in the areas of employment and human rights.”
“As chief judge, she has drawn particular attention to issues relating to access to justice, the impact of changing social norms and the balancing of rights and interests in the employment relationship,” Allen explained. “Christina has done much to highlight the challenges and opportunities thrown up by new digital technologies and social media, the off-putting (if not crippling) costs of the litigation process, and the need to address barriers to the employment institutions, particularly for vulnerable workers.”
Inglis made history in 2017 as the first female Employment Court chief judge after first being appointed to the bench in 2011. Her practice focused on civil litigation, public law and employment law.
She logged a long tenure as Crown Counsel at Crown Law, where she spearheaded the Crown Law human rights team. She was also a member of the advisory board of the New Zealand Centre for Human Rights Law and Practice.
At present, Inglis helms judicial diversity committee Te Awa Tuia Tangata, a committee launched by the chief justice and heads of bench to spur diversity in the judiciary across all courts. She is also on the board of the Access to Justice Advisory Group, a joint initiative of the chief justice and chief executive of the Ministry of Justice that focuses on access to civil justice. In addition, she is part of the Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee and sits on the Digital Strategy (for Courts and Tribunals) Advisory Group.
She obtained a Master of Law with Honours degree at Victoria University of Wellington and a Master of Arts with Honours degree at the University of Canterbury.
Inglis will receive her honorary doctorate at the Victoria University of Wellington’s graduation ceremony in December. The chief judge is also set to celebrate daughter Mia Inglis’ graduation with a Master of Indigenous Studies.
