New District Court Judge

The Minister of Justice, Hon D.A.M. Graham, today announced the appointment of Nelson Barrister and Solicitor Christopher Norman Tuohy as a District Court Judge.

Judge Tuohy will be sworn in at Nelson District Court on 26 September and will sit in Wellington from 20 October.

Judge Tuohy graduated LL.B (Hons) from Victoria University in 1972 and was admitted to the Bar in 1974.

He spent five years practising in Wellington before moving to Nelson in 1977 where he is now a partner in a legal firm.

Judge Tuohy is the Immediate Past President of the Nelson District Law Society and for many years was a Member of the Society's Council and Complaints Committee.

He has been a Member of the panel of Crown prosecutors for Nelson since 1990.

He has appeared as counsel for both the prosecution and the defence in numerous jury trials at District and High Court level. He has appeared as counsel for the appellant on a number of appeals to the Court of Appeal in criminal matters.

He has extensive civil litigation in the District and High Courts and occasionally on appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Judge Tuohy has 25 years experience in the Family Court in all aspects of family law including many appointments as counsel for children in custody, access and guardianship disputes. He has been a Youth Advocate in the Youth Court since its creation.

He has considerable experience in medico-legal, maritime and fishing matters.