Gordon Bisson

The Right Honourable Sir Gordon Ellis Bisson Kt. PC LLB
Personal details
Born	23 November 1918 (1918-11-23) (age 92) Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Died	14 November 2010
Spouse(s)	Myra Patricia (Lady) Bisson nee Kemp

The Right Honourable Sir Gordon Ellis Bisson, Kt. PC LLB (1918 – 14 November 2010^[1]) was a Court of Appeal judge and a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom.

Early life and education

Gordon Ellis Bisson was born to Clarence Henry Bisson and Ada Bisson née Ellis in 1918 in Napier, New Zealand. Educated at Napier Boys’ High School, he graduated from Victoria University College, Wellington with a Bachelor of Laws in 1941. Gordon Ellis Bisson served with the RNZNVR during World War II from 1940–45 aboard the HMNZS Leander in the Pacific, HMS Warspite at Normandy and the Second Front, and was Mentioned in Despatches.^[2] He then served aboard the HMS Nelson at sea on the Staff of Admiral Walker Commanding the Third Battle Squadron in the Far East^[3] and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He was later married in 1948 to Myra Patricia Bisson and is survived by Myra and 3 Daughters.

Legal career

Gordon began his legal career with Bisson Moss the firm established in 1920 by his father Mr C H Bisson.^[4] In 1961 he was appointed Crown Solicitor, Napier and in 1976 was appointed Judge-Courts Martial Appeal Court. Then In 1978 he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme (then High) Court.

In 1986 he was elevated to the Court of Appeal and sat there until he retired at age 72 in 1990. In 1987, he was appointed a Privy Counsellor^[5] and he sat on the Board in 1989.

As a retired New Zealand Court of Appeal judge Sir Gordon served on the Samoan Court of Appeal from 1994 until 2005 for which he was awarded the Companion of the Order of Samoa. He was also a member of the Court of Appeal of Kiribati from 1999 until 2001.

Honours and awards

• 1939: Sir Michael Myers C.J. Prize in Law.
• 1986: Appointed to the Privy Council.
• 1989: Knight Bachelor.
• 2006: Companion of the Order of Samoa.

Publications

Articles

• Papers on Matrimonial Property Law Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference 1960 and N.Z. Law Society Conference 1963
• co-author, Criminal Law and Practice in NZ (1st Edn 1964)
• co-author, Report for International Commission of Jurists on Martial Law in the Philippines (1977).

Community Service

• President: Hawke's Bay District Law Society, Hawke's Bay Officers' Club, Hawke's Bay Medico Legal Society, Hawke's Bay Lawn Tennis Club
• Vice President: N.Z. Law Society, N.Z. Section International Commission of Jurists
• Trustee: N.Z. Law Foundation 1982–88
• Chairman: Banking Ombudsman Commission, Meat Export Quota Tribunal

References

1. ^ Gordon Ellis BISSON Obituary, The New Zealand Herald, 15 November 2010
2. ^ Walters, Sidney, David. The Royal New Zealand Navy. Historical Publications Branch, 1956. p. 520.
3. ^ Walters, Sidney, David. The Royal New Zealand Navy. Historical Publications Branch, 1956. p. 521.
4. ^ Bisson Moss Website [1], Bisson Moss Barristers & Solicitors.
5. ^ Honours Secretariat [2], DPMC – New Zealand Honours: Privy Council NZ Members.

Persondata
Name	Bisson, Gordon
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	23 November 1918
Place of birth	Napier, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Date of death	14 November 2010
Place of death