Rosemary Riddell
Retired Judge & Author
Actor turned District Court judge Rosemary began her career working in broadcasting and public relations. She was admitted to the bar in 1992 and worked in family law for Gaze Burt in Auckland. She moved to Dunedin to join Gallaway Haggitt Sinclair in 1997 and was made a partner in the firm in 1999. In 2006 she was appointed a Family Court judge in Hamilton. She has also served as a Council member of the Otago District Law Society, and President of the Otago Women Lawyers Society.
Rosemary began acting at the Downstage Theatre in Wellington in the 70s. In 2007, her short film Cake Tin won the Sandcastle Award at the 2007 Moondance Film Festival. In 2009, she directed a feature film The Insatiable Moon, based on a novel by her husband Mike Riddell. Rosemary is also Deputy Chair of the Fortune Theatre Board.
Rosemary's new book To be Fair: Confessions of a District Court Judge will be released this month and reminiscences of life on the bench, complete with its humour, frustrations and poignant moments.
Rosemary and Mike have three children.