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Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson is tonight hosting a function at Parliament to commemorate the 800^th Anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta.

“Over time, Magna Carta has come to represent a number of fundamental principles including the protection of human rights, freedom of religion, the right to justice and, most importantly, the rule of law,” Mr Finlayson said.

This Parliamentary function forms part of a programme of events across New Zealand coordinated by the Magna Carta 800 Committee for New Zealand.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to former New Zealand Law Society President, John Marshall CNZM QC, who died yesterday.

“Mr Marshall was both a highly respected member of the legal profession and a friend,” Mr Finlayson said.

The son of former Prime Minister, Sir Jack Marshall, John Marshall had a distinguished career in the law as a litigation partner in Buddle Findlay and barrister. In addition, he was Chief Commissioner of the Transport Accident Investigation Commission and was heavily involved in the Presbyterian Church.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson travels to New York today to attend the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Open Briefing on foreign terrorist fighters.

“New Zealand, along with many members of the international community, is facing complex issues related to the radicalisation, recruitment and travel of foreign terrorist fighters,” Mr Finlayson said.

Lithuania is chairing the Briefing that will assess the progress made towards implementing Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014), which specifically addresses foreign terrorist fighters.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the appointment of Hon Kate Wilkinson of Christchurch and the reappointment of Ms Kathryn Edmonds of Wellington as Commissioners of the Environment Court, both for a five year term.   

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to the life and career of former Supreme Court Judge, the Rt Hon Sir Thomas Munro Gault, KNZM, QC, who died in Auckland earlier this week.

“Sir Thomas was one of the great leaders of the New Zealand legal profession,” Mr Finlayson said. “He was a distinguished member of the judiciary and a highly respected practitioner, particularly in the areas of intellectual property and competition law.”

A former Deputy Prime Minister and a respected lawyer are to lead the first regular review of New Zealand’s security and intelligence agencies, Acting Attorney-General Amy Adams announced today.

Brian Dickey has been appointed Crown Solicitor for Auckland and Natalie Walker Crown Solicitor for Manukau, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Dickey will be supported by the firm, Meredith Connell, and Ms Walker by the firm Kayes Fletcher Walker.

"Mr Dickey and Ms Walker were selected from a very competitive pool of applicants and I am confident they will do an excellent job," Mr Finlayson said.

The appointments follow the decision in October 2014 to reconfigure the Auckland region from one to two new Crown Solicitor warrants.

The Honourable Justice Helen Winkelmann, Chief High Court Judge, has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal and the Honourable Justice Geoffrey John Venning, Judge of the High Court in Auckland, has been appointed Chief High Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Winkelmann graduated from Auckland University in 1984 and was a partner with Phillips Fox for a number of years. She commenced practice at the independent bar in 2001.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson has today launched the Magna Carta 800 Essay Competition for New Zealand students to recognise the 800^th anniversary of the signing of Magna Carta.

“The fundamental values embodied by Magna Carta, such as rule of law, are as relevant today as they were in 1215,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christchurch barrister Marcus Elliott has been appointed a Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Mr Elliott has worked in law firms in Sydney, London and Christchurch and the legal departments of local authorities in London. He was litigation partner at Mortlock McCormack Law in Christchurch until he became a barrister sole and joined Canterbury Chambers in 2008. 

Chief Coroner Deborah Marshall has been appointed a District Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Marshall was appointed Chief Coroner effective from 13 February 2015 following the recent retirement of former Chief Coroner Judge Neil MacLean. 

Judge Marshall will be sworn in on 27 March 2015 at Auckland.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson represented New Zealand at the Ministerial meeting of the White House Summit on Countering Violent Extremism in Washington DC on 19 February.

The meeting, chaired by US Secretary of State, John Kerry, and addressed by President Obama, set an action agenda to counter violent extremism through community engagement.  

“In the current global environment, it is important that the international community comes together to develop best practice measures against violent extremism,” Mr Finlayson said.

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

Bernadette Farnan, barrister and solicitor of Dunedin, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant and as a Family Court Judge to serve in the Invercargill District Court. Judge Farnan will be sworn in on 16 April 2015 in Dunedin. 

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today that an appointment round for Queen’s Counsel will take place in 2015. 

Appointments of Queen’s Counsel are made by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Attorney-General and with the concurrence of the Chief Justice. The Governor-General retains the discretion to appoint Queen’s Counsel in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the law in fields other than advocacy.

Auckland Coroner Deborah Marshall has been appointed the new Chief Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. She replaces Judge Neil MacLean who is retiring after having served in the position since 2007.

Ms Marshall was appointed a Coroner for the Auckland region in January 2013. She previously held the position of General Counsel for the Serious Fraud Office. Prior to joining that office in June 2010, she was a partner at Meredith Connell, the Crown Solicitors in Auckland. 

Christchurch Barrister and Solicitor Gerald Hope Nation has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Nation graduated with an LLB(Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1974 and commenced work as a barrister and solicitor with Wynn Williams, where he had been employed as a law clerk for the previous year. At the end of 1975 he left Wynn Williams to travel overseas.

Attorney-General, Christopher Finlayson, will represent New Zealand at the 70^th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz in Poland on 27 January, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Mr Finlayson is accompanied by Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Hon Annette King, underscoring the importance of the commemoration to all New Zealanders.

“We must never forget the atrocities that took place during the Second World War,” Mr Finlayson said.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has paid tribute to former President of the Court of Appeal, Rt Hon Sir Ivor Richardson, who has died at the age of 84.

"It is hard to think of anyone who has made a more substantive contribution to the law and social policy than Sir Ivor Richardson,” Mr Finlayson said. “His was a career marked by excellence in everything he did.”

Attorney-General, Christopher Finlayson, today announced the appointment of Christchurch lawyer Anna Tutton as a Coroner. Ms Tutton replaces retiring Christchurch Coroner, Richard McElrea.

Auckland Queen’s Counsel Anne Hinton has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Hinton graduated with an LLB(Hons) from Auckland University in 1975 and became a staff solicitor with Grierson Jackson & Partners in Auckland. 

The first revision programme of statutes has been presented to the House of Representatives, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today. “This is a banner day for the New Zealand statute books,” said Mr Finlayson. “It is the start of a systematic programme of statute revision which will make the law clearer and more accessible for New Zealanders. There has not been a major revision and consolidation of our legislation since 1908.”

Auckland Queen’s Counsel Matthew Muir has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Muir graduated with an LLB (Hons) from Auckland University in 1981 and became a staff solicitor with Holmden Horrocks & Co in Auckland.  In 1984 he took leave from Holmden Horrocks for postgraduate studies at the University of Virginia, graduating with an LLM.