John Levy MacDuff

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The Honourable

John Levy Macduff

MC
Chief Justice of Fiji
In office
1962–1963
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Personal details
Born11 December 1905
Wellington, New Zealand
Died11 July 1963(1963-07-11) (aged 57)
Suva, Fiij

John Levy MacDuff MC (11 December 1905 – 11 July 1963) was a New Zealand-born lawyer and magistrate. He served as Chief Justice of Fiji from 1962 until his death the following year.

Biography[]

MacDuff was born in Wellington, New Zealand on 11 December 1905.[1][2] He was educated at Wellington College before studying at Victoria University College.[3] He subsequently worked a barrister and solicitor.[2]

During World War II he joined the 27th Machine-Gun Battalion. He was awarded the Military Cross in January 1943 for his efforts in the Western Desert campaign in 1942, and was mentioned in dispatches.[4][2] He went on to serve as the battalion's Commanding Officer between September 1943 and February 1944, before becoming Commanding Officer of the 25th Battalion, a post he held until June 1944. After leaving the army, he was appointed Assistant Legal Advisor to the Western Pacific High Commission in Fiji in late 1944.[4]

Shortly after arriving in Fiji, MacDuff became Acting Solicitor-General. He served as a District Magistrate between 1946 and 1948, before becoming a Chief Magistrate, a post he held until relocating to Kenya to serve as a puisne judge in 1953.[4]

MacDuff returned to Fiji in 1962 to become Chief Justice, a role he held until his death at his home in Suva the following year.[4]

References[]

  1. ^ Kenya Calling: Weekly News Digest, 1962
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c John Levy MacDuff Online Cenotaph
  3. ^ The New Zealand Law Journal, Volume 38, p219
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Mr. Justice MacDuff Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1963, p128
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