Acting District Court Judges appointed

Two acting District Court Judges have been appointed, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Richard McIlraith, barrister and solicitor of Auckland, has been appointed an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Manukau. Mr McIlraith was admitted to the Bar in 1988. He has practised at Russell McVeagh since 1993 and has been a partner at the firm since 1995. He is currently chair of the partnership.

In recent years Mr McIlraith has practised primarily in the employment law area but has also been involved in general commercial litigation, health and safety, immigration, family and criminal law matters.

Judge McIlraith will be sworn in on 24 February 2016 in Auckland.

Emma Parsons, barrister of Auckland, has been appointed an acting District Court Judge with a Family Court warrant to be based in Tauranga. Ms Parsons has been a family law barrister on her own account since 2001 practising appellate work and Care of Children Act matters.

Ms Parsons is regularly appointed by the Family Court, the High Court and The Hague Central Authority to represent children, undertaking amicus curiae and counsel to assist roles.

Judge Parsons will be sworn in on 15 March 2016 in Auckland.