Judith Ablett-Kerr

Judith Mary Ablett-Kerr (née Ablett; born ) is a criminal defence lawyer and King's Counsel in New Zealand.

Early life and education Ablett-Kerr was born in 1946 or 1947 in Wales and grew up there.

Ablett-Kerr studied law at the University of London and was admitted to the bar in Cardiff in 1970. She emigrated to New Zealand and settled in Dunedin in 1981. She was admitted to the New Zealand bar in 1982. In April 1995, she was appointed a Queen's Counsel, becoming the third female and the first female criminal defence lawyer in New Zealand to be made a QC.

Personal life Ablett-Kerr was twice married before moving to New Zealand. In 1987, she married Lewis Kerr, Her elder son, Rupert Ablett-Hampson, became a lawyer, and was appointed the deputy chief censor of New Zealand in 2021. Her younger son, Edward Ablett-Hampson, has been a staffer for Murray McCully when he was the minister of foreign affairs,

Ablett-Kerr's brother, Michael Ablett, was the National Party's candidate in the Dunedin Central electorate at the 1978 general election, but was not elected, finishing second behind the Labour candidate, Brian MacDonell.