Judge Kenneth Keith is Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to legal education and law reform, Order of New Zealand. Judge Keith is a distinguished academic, legal advisor and international advocate. He served as judge of the International Court of Justice from November 2005 until he retired in February 2015.

Previously he was Judge of the New Zealand Court of Appeal (1996-2003), the Supreme Court of New Zealand (2004-2006); and at various times, Judge of Appeal in Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue and Fiji; and a Member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, London. He is Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand (1961) and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1994. Judge Keith served as Director of the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs and President of the New Zealand Law Commission. He is Professor Emeritus of Victoria University of Wellington.