New Associate High Court Judge appointed

Christchurch barrister John Gordon Matthews has been appointed an Associate Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Matthews graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1972. He practised as a solicitor at Lane Neave in Christchurch, where he was a partner from 1975 to 1987, when he joined the independent bar.

As a barrister Mr Matthews has practised mainly in the civil area. He is an experienced resource management commissioner and was the Chair of the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal from 1998 to 2004. Mr Matthews has also served on a number of Law Society committees and the Council of the New Zealand Bar Association.

The new Associate Judge will sit in Christchurch.