Sixth generation of family admitted to bar
Rachael Gresson says she has big boots to fill as she picks up the legal baton her family has carried for many years.
The 28-year-old former Hamilton woman continued her family’s long legal association yesterday when she was admitted to the bar at the High Court in Timaru, the sixth generation of the Gresson family to become a barrister or solicitor.
The ceremony was overseen by Justice Nicholas Davidson and retired Justice Peter Penlington QC, both who have long associations with the Gresson family. Rachael’s family also attended the ceremony, as well as lawyers from Timaru law firm Gresson Dorman and Co.
‘‘It’s an honour to be here and to be surrounded by my family,’’ Rachael told the court.
Now based in Washington DC, United States of America, she said the occasion is one she had always known would happen from an early age. ‘‘Debates and policy and the law have always been a big part of my family’s motivation. Law runs through my veins.’’
She travelled back to Timaru especially for the admission and said it had been all she had thought of for the past six days.
Rachael’s great-great-grandfather Hon. Henry Barnes Gresson became a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, 18 years after the Treaty of Waitangi was signed. In 1858 he was appointed the first resident Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand for Canterbury and Otago, until he retired in 1875.
His son John Gresson practised at the Bar until his death in 1891. His two sons Kenneth and Maurice, also practised law.
Maurice was a leader of the Christchurch Bar and Kenneth was appointed a Supreme Court Judge, as later was his son Terence.
Kenneth became the first president of the permanent Court of Appeal in 1958.
Terence’s appointment as Supreme Court Judge in 1956 at the age of 42 was the youngest ever.
Justice Davidson told Rachael her grandfather Michael Gresson had a strong influence on his own career. ‘‘Your grandfather dominated Crown legal services in South Canterbury and North Otago for many years,’’ he said.
‘‘Your moving counsel, your uncle Timothy Gresson took your grandfather’s place as Crown Solicitor in the front row of the South Canterbury Bar in the old court room in the same seat, together representing, I think, a combined 60 years of Crown service in Timaru.’’
He said the Gresson family had been eminent in judicial, legal, church, military and community roles, in different parts of the country, for 160 years.
Rachael said she would be admitted to the New York bar in July and will continue her work in policy and communication.
She hopes to return to New Zealand, with partner Kelly Wilson, in the near future. ‘‘I am grateful to my uncle [Tim Gresson] for his time.’’