Story: Judicial system

Lord Cooke of Thorndon (pictured right) was one of New Zealand's foremost jurists. This photograph shows him in 1986, the year he became president of the Court of Appeal as Sir Robin Cooke. With him is another appeal court judge, Justice McMullin. After 20 years on the Court of Appeal, Cooke was elevated to the peerage in 1996, and, as well as sitting in the House of Lords, he served on the Privy Council. He was, however, in favour of the abolition of the Privy Council appeal and an advocate of a New Zealand Supreme Court. He died in 2006 at the age of 80.