Judith Medlicott

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Judith Olwyn Medlicott CNZM (née Sloan; 6 March 1942 – 4 May 2024) was a New Zealand lawyer and advocate. She served as chancellor of the University of Otago from 1993 to 1998, and was the New Zealand Mastermind champion in 1988.

Early life and education[edit]

Judith Olwyn Sloan was born in Invercargill, New Zealand on 6 March 1942.[1] She was educated at Otago Girls' High School in Dunedin.[2] She took up her law studies in 1972, after a Master of Arts degree, marriage and three children. In 1971, she was one of the eight original members of the Dunedin Collective for Woman.[3] She was admitted to the bar in 1975.[4] Both her degrees were completed at the University of Otago.[5]

Career[edit]

Medlicott's first position was at Dunedin law firm Cook Allan & Co. in 1975; she was made partner in 1980. In 1986, she left to form her own practice. At this time, she also founded OWLS, the Otago Women's Law Society.[4] Her legal work often centred around issues of significance to women, such as Family Court and relationship property issues. She was also frequently appointed by the Family Court to represent children in custody and welfare cases.[4][5]

In 1988, Medlicott won the New Zealand Mastermind TV competition.[4]

Medlicott was chancellor of the University of Otago from 1993 to 1998.[6] She served on a number of community boards, including Radio New Zealand, the Otago District Health Board, the New Zealand Law Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal and the Ashburn Hall Charitable Trust.[4]

Later life and death[edit]

In 2003, Medlicott was one of 140 prominent New Zealanders who signed a petition seeking a Royal Commission into the controversial conviction of childcare worker Peter Ellis.[7]

Medlicott died in Dunedin on 4 May 2024, at the age of 82.[8]

Honours and awards[edit]

In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Medlicott was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the legal profession, education and the community.[9] The same year she received an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Otago.[4]

In 2014, Medlicott was awarded a life membership of OWLS, in recognition of her inspirational career and service to the legal community.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ The World Who's Who of Women. Melrose Press. 1994. p. 368. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  2. ^ "History". Otago Girls' High School. Archived from the original on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  3. ^ Harrison, Elizabeth (1993). "Dunedin Collective for Woman". New Zealand History, Nga Korero a Ipurangi O Aotearoa. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g dunedinowls (25 February 2014). "Judith Medlicott awarded a life membership". Otago Women Lawyers' Society. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Family lawyers Dunedin". Medlicotts Lawyers. 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Members of the executive". Clan Ayson NZ Society. 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2016.
  7. ^ "Ellis supporters need new evidence says Goff". New Zealand Herald. 25 June 2003. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  8. ^ "Lawyer, former uni chancellor dies at 82". Otago Daily Times. 6 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
  9. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
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