The Right Honourable Dame Sian Elias, Chief Justice Chief Justice Dame Sian Elias studied law at the University of Auckland, graduating with LLB (Hons), and was admitted to the Bar in 1970. She gained a JSM from Stanford University in the United States, before entering legal practice from 1972 in Auckland. Dame Sian served as a Law Commissioner from 1986 until 1990. She was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1988 and a judge of the High Court in 1995. Justice Elias became Chief Justice in 1999, and was awarded the GNZM the same year. Dame Sian became a member of the Supreme Court on its establishment in January 2004. The Honourable Justice McGrath Justice John McGrath graduated LLM from Victoria University of Wellington in 1968. He was a partner in Buddle Findlay, in Wellington, until he moved to the separate bar in 1984. He became Queen's Counsel in 1987 and he was Solicitor-General between 1989 and 2000. Justice McGrath was appointed to the Court of Appeal in July 2000 and to the Supreme Court in May 2005.  In 2007 Justice McGrath was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The appointment was redesignated Knight Companion of that Order in 2009. The Honourable Justice William Young Justice William Young graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury and later gained a doctorate from Cambridge University. He joined the Christchurch firm of R A Young Hunter and Co in 1978, leaving in 1988 to practise as a barrister.