Gordon Bisson
Encyclopedia
The Right Honourable Sir Gordon Ellis Bisson, Kt.
PC
LLB
(1918 – 14 November 2010) was a Court of Appeal judge and a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
.
. Educated at Napier Boys’ High School, he graduated from Victoria University College, Wellington
with a Bachelor of Laws
in 1941. Gordon Ellis Bisson served with the RNZNVR during World War II from 1940–45 aboard the HMNZS Leander
in the Pacific, HMS Warspite at Normandy and the Second Front, and was Mentioned in Despatches. He then served aboard the at sea on the Staff of Admiral Walker Commanding the Third Battle Squadron in the Far East
and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He was later married in 1948 to Myra Patricia Bisson and is survived by Myra and 3 Daughters.
In 1986 he was elevated to the Court of Appeal and sat there until he retired at age 72 in 1990. In 1987, he was appointed a Privy Counsellor and he sat on the Board in 1989.
As a retired New Zealand Court of Appeal judge Sir Gordon served on the Samoan Court of Appeal from 1994 until 2005 for which he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Samoa. He was also a member of the Court of Appeal of Kiribati
from 1999 until 2001.
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
LLB
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
(1918 – 14 November 2010) was a Court of Appeal judge and a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
.
Early life and education
Gordon Ellis Bisson was born to Clarence Henry Bisson and Ada Bisson née Ellis in 1918 in Napier, New ZealandNapier, New Zealand
Napier is a New Zealand city with a seaport, located in Hawke's Bay on the eastern coast of the North Island. The population of Napier is about About 18 kilometres south of Napier is the inland city of Hastings. These two neighboring cities are often called "The Twin Cities" or "The Bay Cities"...
. Educated at Napier Boys’ High School, he graduated from Victoria University College, Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington
Victoria University of Wellington was established in 1897 by Act of Parliament, and was a former constituent college of the University of New Zealand. It is particularly well known for its programmes in law, the humanities, and some scientific disciplines, but offers a broad range of other courses...
with a Bachelor of Laws
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
in 1941. Gordon Ellis Bisson served with the RNZNVR during World War II from 1940–45 aboard the HMNZS Leander
HMNZS Leander
HMNZS Leander was a light cruiser which served with the Royal New Zealand Navy during World War II. She was the lead ship of a class of eight ships, the Leander class light cruiser and was initially named HMS Leander.- History :...
in the Pacific, HMS Warspite at Normandy and the Second Front, and was Mentioned in Despatches. He then served aboard the at sea on the Staff of Admiral Walker Commanding the Third Battle Squadron in the Far East
3rd Battle Squadron (United Kingdom)
The British Royal Navy 3rd Battle Squadron was a naval squadron consisting of battleships and other vessels, active from at least 1914 to 1945. The 3rd Battle Squadron was initially part of the Royal Navy's Home Fleet. During the First World War, the Home Fleet was renamed the Grand Fleet...
and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He was later married in 1948 to Myra Patricia Bisson and is survived by Myra and 3 Daughters.
Legal career
Gordon began his legal career with Bisson Moss the firm established in 1920 by his father Mr C H Bisson. In 1961 he was appointed Crown Solicitor, Napier and in 1976 was appointed Judge-Courts Martial Appeal Court. Then In 1978 he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme (then High) Court.In 1986 he was elevated to the Court of Appeal and sat there until he retired at age 72 in 1990. In 1987, he was appointed a Privy Counsellor and he sat on the Board in 1989.
As a retired New Zealand Court of Appeal judge Sir Gordon served on the Samoan Court of Appeal from 1994 until 2005 for which he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Samoa. He was also a member of the Court of Appeal of Kiribati
Kiribati
Kiribati , officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The permanent population exceeds just over 100,000 , and is composed of 32 atolls and one raised coral island, dispersed over 3.5 million square kilometres, straddling the...
from 1999 until 2001.
Honours and awards
- 1939: Sir Michael Myers C.J. Prize in Law.
- 1986: Appointed to the Privy CouncilPrivy Council of the United KingdomHer Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. - 1989: Knight BachelorKnight BachelorThe rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. - 2006: Companion of the Order of Samoa.
Publications
Articles- Papers on Matrimonial Property Law Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference 1960 and N.Z. Law Society Conference 1963
- co-author, Criminal Law and Practice in NZ (1st Edn 1964)
- co-author, Report for International Commission of Jurists on Martial Law in the Philippines (1977).
Community Service
- President: Hawke's Bay District Law Society, Hawke's Bay Officers' Club, Hawke's Bay Medico Legal Society, Hawke's Bay Lawn Tennis Club
- Vice President: N.Z. Law Society, N.Z. Section International Commission of Jurists
- Trustee: N.Z. Law Foundation 1982–88
- Chairman: Banking Ombudsman Commission, Meat Export Quota Tribunal