Malcolm Wallis

Malcolm John David Wallis (born 8 July 1950) is a South African retired judge who served in the Supreme Court of Appeal between 2011 and 2021. Formerly an advocate in Natal, he joined the bench in 2009 as a judge in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court.

Education and early career Born on 8 July 1950 in Durban, Wallis matriculated at Durban High School. He graduated from the University of Natal in 1972 with a BCom and LLB, and he entered practice as an advocate in Natal in 1973.

Judicial career After several stints as an acting judge, Wallis joined the bench of the KwaZulu-Natal High Court on 1 January 2009.

In 2011, President Jacob Zuma elevated Wallis to the Supreme Court of Appeal, where he took office on 1 June. During his 10 years' service in the appellate court, his notable judgments included Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development v Southern African Litigation Centre, in which the court found that the South African government had acted unlawfully when it failed to effect an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir.

Wallis was an acting judge of the Constitutional Court for one term between July and September 2015. the commission recommended Wallis and three others – Leona Theron, Steven Majiedt, and Jody Kollapen – as suitable for appointment. President Zuma appointed Theron.

He retired from the judiciary in 2021.

Personal life He married his wife, Janet, in 1977; they have three children.