Annis Somerville

Annis Somerville is a retired New Zealand judge. She was the first judge of Māori descent to be appointed to the Family Court of New Zealand.

Biography Somerville was born in Lawrence, Central Otago and attended school in Oamaru. She studied anthropology, philosophy and Russian studies at the University of Otago. She then trained as a school teacher and taught for two years, including one year at Otumoetai Intermediate School in 1973. Somerville decided to enrol for law studies when her older brother started studying law.

Somerville is a fellow and vice chair of Knox College and founding member and an honorary life member of the Otago Women's Law Society. In 1996 she was president of the Otago District Law Society. She was also a founding member and president of the NZ Association of Women Judges until 2016.

Personal life

Somerville has Ngāi Tahu and Scottish descent. Rollo was also appointed a judge, in 2000; they became the first husband and wife judiciary officers in New Zealand.