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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.

Auckland Queen’s Counsel Paul Davison has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Justice Davison graduated with an LLB from the University of Auckland in 1975 and was employed at Auckland firm Glaister Ennor & Kiff. In 1977 Justice Davison joined Keegan Alexander Tedcastle & Friendlander, becoming a partner in 1978. 

The Crown and Ngāi Tuhoe welcome the launch of Te Urewera’s inaugural Statement of Priorities in Taneatua today.

“This launch is significant as it demonstrates the excellent progress the Te Urewera Board has made since Te Urewera was declared a legal entity last year,” Mr Finlayson says.

The Statement of Priorities invites public feedback on a framework for Te Kawa O Te Urewera, a 10 year management plan which sets out the objectives and policies for Te Urewera. Te Kawa O Te Urewera is due to be finalised in September 2017.

Kerry Smith, barrister and solicitor of Christchurch, has been appointed an Employment Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Smith is a senior litigation partner with Buddle Findlay in Christchurch having joined the partnership in 1991. He practises primarily in employment law, resource management and civil litigation. He is currently the Deputy Convenor, Canterbury Westland Lawyers Standards Committee No. 1 of the New Zealand Law Society.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has acknowledged the contribution to the coronial system and Wellington legal community of Coroner Garry Evans, whose final hearing is being held today.

“Since Garry Evans’ appointment as Wellington District Coroner in 1997, New Zealand has benefited from his good judgement, strong work ethic and dedication,” Mr Finlayson said.  

Mr Evans also served as Acting Chief Coroner between September 2009 and November 2009.

Una Jagose has been appointed Solicitor-General, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Ms Jagose was Deputy Solicitor, Crown Legal Risk at Crown Law for two years before becoming Acting Director of the Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) in February this year.

“I have worked with Ms Jagose over a number of years in her roles at Crown Law and the GCSB,” Mr Finlayson said. “She has very sound legal judgement and has proven herself a capable and effective leader.”

Brigitte Windley has been appointed a Coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today. Ms Windley will replace retiring Dunedin Coroner David Crerar.

Ms Windley is employed with New Zealand Police as a legal adviser and is currently on secondment to the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence & Security in the role of senior investigator. Earlier in her career she worked for several law firms, the Office of the Privacy Commissioner and Disputes Resolution Services Limited.

The Government is seeking submissions on an exposure draft of the Contract and Commercial Law Bill, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Eleven contract and commercial statutes, some dating back to 1908, have been revised and consolidated into a single Bill without changing the substantive effect of the law.

Wellington Queen’s Counsel Matthew Palmer has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Justice Palmer graduated with an LLB (Hons) (First Class) in 1987. He has degrees in economics and political science from the University of Canterbury and a Masters and Doctorate in Law from Yale Law School.

Wellington Queen’s Counsel Karen Clark has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Clark graduated with an LLB from Victoria University in 1986 and joined the Crown Law Office as a Crown Counsel Assistant. She was appointed Crown Counsel in 1988 and spent six years leading the Office’s public commercial team before becoming a Deputy Solicitor-General in 2002.

In 2007 Justice Clark went to the independent bar and was appointed Queen’s Counsel that same year. 

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC has thanked Solicitor-General Michael Heron QC for three years of outstanding service to the Crown, following Mr Heron’s decision to step down from the role.

“When Mr Heron was appointed Solicitor-General in 2012, he indicated he would serve at least three years in the role,” Mr Finlayson said. “His family has remained in Auckland and he has decided it is time to return home. He has agreed to stay on until a successor is appointed.”

The Honourable Justice Stephen Kós has been appointed a Judge of the Court of Appeal, Attorney General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Kós graduated LLB (Hons) from Victoria University in 1981 and LLM from Cambridge University in 1985. He became a partner in Perry Wylie Pope & Page in 1985, and in Russell McVeagh in 1988.  He joined the independent bar in 2005 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2007. 

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC today expressed his disappointment at the lack of rigour shown by the Law Society in its recent press release criticising provisions of the Health and Safety Reform Bill.

“Law Society President Chris Moore claimed that Schedule 2A of the Health and Safety Reform Bill would allow a person to be tried of a criminal offence without seeing all the information relied on by the Crown and without the right to be present (or to have their representative present) during all the proceedings. This is wrong,” Mr Finlayson said.

Alan Ritchie has been appointed Judicial Conduct Commissioner and Kathryn Snook has been appointed Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner, both for a term of five years effective from 31 August 2015, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

Mr Ritchie has been the Deputy Judicial Conduct Commissioner since 2011 and was Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the New Zealand Law Society from 1985 to 2008.

Auckland barrister Debra Bell has been appointed a coroner, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today. 

Ms Bell fills the vacancy created when Judge Deborah Marshall was appointed Chief Coroner earlier this year. She joins four other coroners serving Auckland, Henderson, Manukau, Papakura, Pukekohe and Takapuna.

Three lawyers have been appointed Queen’s Counsel this year, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today.

They are:

• Margaret Casey from Auckland;
• Mark O’Brien from Wellington; and
• Richard Boast from Wellington.

“The appointment to the rank of Queen’s Counsel recognises independent advocates who have excelled at the highest level of law,” Mr Finlayson said.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced he is satisfied with the conduct of Crown Law in relation to R v Banks.

“Following the release of the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in R v Banks and a number of adverse comments made in the media, I indicated I would take a careful look at Crown Law’s management of the case in my capacity as minister responsible for the Crown Law Office. I have now done so.

Kevin Riordan ONZM has been appointed Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson QC announced today. 

Mr Riordan has been Deputy Judge Advocate General and Deputy Chief Judge of the Court Martial since October 2013. He takes over from Christopher Hodson QC who is retiring.

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

Warren Cathcart, barrister and solicitor of Auckland, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to serve in the Gisborne District Court. Judge Cathcart will be sworn in on 7 August 2015 in Auckland.

Richard Earwaker, barrister of Auckland, has been appointed as an acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to serve in the Manukau District Court. Judge Earwaker will be sworn in on 12 August 2015 in Auckland.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today paid tribute to former Chief Justice of New Zealand, Sir Ronald Davison GBE, CMG, QC, who died last week aged 94.

“Sir Ronald was a highly respected New Zealander who made a significant contribution to law and justice system reforms,” Mr Finlayson said.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the establishment of the Legislation Design and Advisory Committee to improve the quality and effectiveness of legislation.

“The new committee is similar to the former Legislation Advisory Committee but will provide advice to government agencies about the design and content of bills earlier on in their development,” Mr Finlayson said.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson today announced the reappointment of David Noble as Chief Parliamentary Counsel to 6 May 2016.

“Mr Noble’s reappointment will provide consistent leadership to this important role,” Mr Finlayson said.

Christchurch Queen’s Counsel Nicholas Davidson and Auckland Barrister and Solicitor Rebecca Anne Edwards have been appointed Judges of the High Court, Attorney‑General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Justice Davidson graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1971 and became a barrister and solicitor with Duncan Cotterill & Co. in Christchurch. In 1974 he left that firm to join Young Hunter & Co, becoming a partner in 1975. 

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.