Thomas Eichelbaum

Early life

Eichelbaum was born in Königsberg, Germany, and his family emigrated to Wellington, New Zealand in 1938 to escape the persecution of Jews. he was educated at Hutt Valley High School, then attended Victoria University of Wellington graduating with a LL.B in 1954.

High Court Judge to Chief Justice of New Zealand

In 1978 Eichelbaum was appointed a Queen's Counsel and during 1980-1982 was President of the New Zealand Law Society. In 1982 Eichelbaum was appointed a judge of the High Court of New Zealand. The highest judicial position Eichelbaum held was in 1989 when he was appointed the Chief Justice of New Zealand and retired from the Bench in 1999.

Retirement

Since retiring as a judge, Sir Thomas has conducted investigations on a number of controversial topics. He chaired the 2000–2001 Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification. He also investigated the reasons for New Zealand losing co-hosting rights to the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Following his report, the chairman and the CEO of the New Zealand Rugby Union both resigned.

In 2001, he conducted a ministerial inquiry reviewing children's evidence in the controversial Peter Ellis case. His report, which has been widely criticised, upheld the guilty verdicts and stands in contrast to an earlier report by retired High Court judge, Sir Thomas Thorp. A New Zealand Law Journal editorial has stated that Eichelbaum had either not read all the children's statements (reviewing only those allowed by the trial judge) or that, "with respect, his judgment is at fault."

On 6 February 1989 Eichelbaum was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of The Order of British Empire (GBE). and later that same year was appointed to the Privy Council. Eichelbaum is (May 2008) a non-permanent judge of the Hong Kong SAR Court of Final Appeal and a part-time justice of the Supreme Court of Fiji and the Court of Appeal of Fiji.

He is married with three adult sons and lives on the Kapiti Coast, north of Wellington.