Attorney General Judith Collins has been appointed a King's Counsel.
In a statement on Friday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it was appropriate to appoint Collins the high honour given "her career achievements and the responsibility she holds on behalf of the Crown" as Attorney General.
Not all previous Attorney Generals have been appointed either Queen's or King's Counsel, but the Government pointed to previous examples like Christopher Finlayson in 2012 and Paul East in 1995.
A Queen's or King's Counsel is considered one of the highest honours for barristers and solicitors. The UK Law Society says the first Queen's Counsel was appointed by Queen Elizabeth I in 1597.
"It is appropriate that the Attorney-General, as the senior law officer of the Crown, be appointed as King’s Counsel. This appointment is made with the Chief Justice’s concurrence," Luxon said.
"The Attorney-General, as first Law Officer, is recognised as a leader of the legal profession."
Collins has a range of ministerial experience, including under Sir John Key. She currently holds a number of portfolios, like Defence, Attorney General, and Space.
She was first elected to Parliament in 2002 and was the National Party leader between July 2020 and November 2021. After a vote of no confidence in her leadership, she was succeeded by Luxon.
Prior to entering politics, Collins was a lawyer and company director. She was admitted to the Bar in 1981 and worked initially as a solicitor specialising in employment, property, commercial and tax law. She formed her own firm, Judith Collins & Associates, where she was the principal between 1990 and 2000. Between 2000 and 2022 she worked as special counsel for Minter Eillison Rudd Watts.
She was Chair of the Casino Control Authority (1999-2002), served as President of the Auckland District Law Society (1998-99) and Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society (1999-2000).
