| Sir Humphrey O'Leary | |
|---|---|
| 7th Chief Justice of New Zealand | |
| In office 12 August 1946 – 16 October 1953 |
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| Nominated by | Peter Fraser |
| Appointed by | Lord Freyberg |
| Preceded by | Michael Myers |
| Succeeded by | Harold Barrowclough |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 February 1886 Blenheim, New Zealand |
| Died | 16 October 1953 (aged 67) Auckland, New Zealand |
Sir Humphrey Francis O'Leary, KCMG, KC (12 February 1886 – 16 October 1953) was the seventh Chief Justice of New Zealand, from 1946 to 1953.
Born in Blenheim in 1886, his father was a blacksmith who had migrated to Masterton. His father was a Roman Catholic, but after hearing one of his sons was not doing well at the local Catholic school, he sent Humphrey to state schools, the Masterton School and Wellington College.[1]
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Humphrey O'Leary attended Victoria College, was awarded an LLB degree in 1908, and from 1908 to 1909 he was a New Zealand University rugby representative. He first worked for Wilford and Levi, a law firm, then went into partnership with a university friend Frank Kelly as O'Leary and Kelly. In 1919 he was invited to join the Wellington legal firm that would become known as Bell Gully.
O'Leary was President of the Wellington Law Society 1921-22, and the New Zealand Law Society 1935-46, and on the Victoria University College Council and the University of New Zealand Senate.
He was the Chief Justice of New Zealand from 1946 to his death in 1953.
He was made a King's Counsel in 1935, a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1947, and Honourable Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple, London in 1948.
O'Leary married Lillian Gallagher in 1912. They had one son.
Sir Humphrey O'Leary died in Auckland in 1953, aged 67.
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