The Judges of the High Court
The Judges and Associate Judges of the High Court
Chief High Court Judge
Justice Randerson is the Chief High Court Judge. He graduated from Auckland University with LLB (Honours) in 1972. He joined the legal firm of Wallace McLean Bawden & Partners (later Kensington Swan) and remained with the firm as a senior litigation partner until 1989, when he commenced practice as a barrister sole. He was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1996. Justice Randerson was appointed a judge of the High Court from October 1997 and has sat from time to time in the Divisional Courts of the Court of Appeal. In December 2004 he was appointed Chief High Court Judge.
Hon Justice Joseph Williams 2008
Hon Justice White 2009
| Acting Judge | Commencement Date |
|---|---|
| Hon Justice Hugh Williams | 1995 |
| Associate Judge | Commencement Date |
|---|---|
| Associate Judge Faire | 1996 |
| Associate Judge Gendall | 2002 |
| Associate Judge Sargisson | 2002 |
| Associate Judge Christiansen | 2003 |
| Associate Judge Abbott | 2005 |
| Associate Judge Doogue | 2005 |
| Associate Judge Robinson | 2007 |
The Honourable Justice Goddard
Justice Lowell Goddard graduated LLB from the University of Auckland in 1974 and was admitted to the Bar in 1975. In 1977 she commenced practice as a barrister and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1988. In 1992 she was appointed Deputy Solicitor-General for New Zealand and in that role undertook responsibility for the prosecution of all indictable crime in New Zealand. She was appointed to the High Court bench in December 1995 and is based in Wellington. She is currently appointed as the Police Complaints Authority.
The Honourable Justice Panckhurst
Justice Graham Panckhurst graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Canterbury in 1969 and was admitted to the Bar the same year. He initially joined the firm of Weston Ward & Lascelles and moved to Raymond Donnelly & Co in 1970, becoming a partner in 1973. In 1985 Justice Panckhurst became Crown Solicitor covering Canterbury and the West Coast and in 1992 he became a barrister sole. In 1994 he was appointed Queen's Counsel and took up the position of judge of the High Court in March 1996. Justice Panckhurst is based at Christchurch High Court.
The Honourable Justice Chisholm
Justice Lester Chisholm graduated Victoria University of Wellington with an LLB in 1967, and LLM in 1968. He joined the Napier firm of Wills Toomey Robinson in 1968, becoming a partner in 1970. Justice Chisholm was President of the Hawkes Bay District Law Society between 1987 and 1990, a member of the NZ Law Society Council from 1988 to 1990, and member of the NZ Law Society Executive from 1989-1990. He was appointed to the High Court bench in April 1996 and is based in Christchurch.
The Honourable Justice Gendall
Justice Warwick Gendall graduated LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1966 and was admitted to the bar the same year. In 1967 he graduated LLM (Hons) from Victoria University. From 1967-68 Justice Gendall took a position as Teaching Fellow at Osgoode Hall Law School, Toronto before becoming a partner at Buddle Findlay from 1968. He became a barrister sole in 1986 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1996. He took appointment to the High Court Bench the same year and is based in the Wellington High Court.
The Honourable Justice Potter
Justice Judith Potter graduated LLB from the University of Auckland in 1965. She became a partner in Wallace McLean Bawden & Partners and then in the national law firm Kensington Swan after the merger of Wallace McLean Bawden & Partners with Auckland and Wellington firms. Justice Potter served as President of the Auckland District Law Society in 1988 and as President of the New Zealand Law Society from 1991 to 1994. She was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1994. Justice Potter was appointed to the High Court bench in 1997 and is based in the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Wild
Justice John Wild graduated from Victoria University of Wellington in 1969. He joined Bell Gully & Co in 1967 initially as a law clerk and then solicitor, and in 1969 was awarded the Timothy Cleary Memorial Prize. Justice Wild commenced practice at the independent bar in 1976 and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1993. He joined the Council of the New Zealand Bar Association in 1992 and was its President when, in September 1998, he was appointed a judge of the High Court. He is based in Wellington.
The Honourable Justice Rodney Hansen
Justice Rodney Hansen graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1969 and was admitted to the Bar the same year. He was also admitted an Associate Chartered Accountant in 1969 having worked prior to undertaking his law degree as an accounting trainee/accountant for companies in Australian Consolidated Industries Ltd group. He joined the law firm of McKegg & Adams-Smith in 1968, travelled overseas from 1969 and upon return to New Zealand in 1973 took up a staff solicitor position with Simpson Coates & Clapshaw. In 1976 Justice Hansen was made a partner of Simpson Coates & Clapshaw, and later Simpson Grierson and Simpson Grierson Butler White, before becoming a Barrister sole in 1991. Justice Hansen was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1995 and took appointment to the High Court bench in 1999. He is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Priestley
Justice John Priestley graduated BA LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1968 where he was a senior scholar in law. He then graduated to an MA degree from Cambridge University and a doctorate in 1972 from the University of Virginia. He was admitted to the bar in 1968 and was a partner in an Auckland firm from 1975 until becoming a barrister sole in 1983. Justice Priestley was noted for his interest in family law and was the chairman of the NZ Law Society's family law section. He was the original chairman of the Deportation Review Authority, and was deputy chairman of the Refugee Status Appeal Authority and chairman of the Film Censorship Board of Review. Justice Priestley was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1994 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 2000. He is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Ronald Young
Justice Ronald Young graduated LLB from Otago University in 1974. He joined Dunedin law firm Mirams & Wilson in 1974 and in 1975 moved to Hamilton to the firm of McCaw Lewis Chapman. Justice Young became a partner of the firm in 1977 specialising exclusively in litigation until 1988 when he returned to Dunedin following appointment as a district court judge. In 1993 Justice Young moved to Wellington to take up the position of Chief District Court Judge and was appointed President of the Electoral Commission in 2000. He became a High Court judge in June 2001 and is based at the Wellington High Court.
The Honourable Justice Harrison
Justice Rhys Harrison graduated LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1971. He worked for McAlister Mazengarb before working a year in Kampala, Uganda. He returned to Auckland and was for some years a partner in Milne Meek (later McElroy Milne). He went to the bar in 1988 and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1994. He was appointed a judge of the High Court in Auckland in 2001.
The Honourable Justice Heath
Justice Paul Heath graduated LLB in 1978 from the University of Auckland. He was admitted to the bar in 1978 and joined the Department of Justice at Auckland as an investigating solicitor. In 1981 he moved to Stace Hammond Grace and Partners and became a partner of the firm in 1983. He was admitted to the Australian Capital Territory bar in 1990. He retired as a partner of Stace Hammond Grace and Partners in 1995 but continued his association with the firm as a consultant until commencing practice as a barrister sole in 1998. Justice Heath was a consultant to the New Zealand Law Commission from 1997 to 1999 and was then appointed a part-time Commissioner for three years. He was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1998 and a High Court judge in 2002. Justice Heath is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Venning
Justice Geoffrey Venning completed a double major B Comm in 1978 at the University of Canterbury followed by an LLB (1st Class Hons) in 1981. From 1982 to 1986 he tutored part-time in commercial law at the University. He became a litigation partner at the Christchurch law firm of Wynn Williams and Co in 1986. He was appointed a master of the High Court in 1995 based in Christchurch. He subsequently moved to Auckland in November 2002 to take up a position as a High Court judge.
The Honourable Justice Keane
Justice Patrick Keane graduated from Victoria University with a BA (1968) and LLB (Hons) (1969). In practice (1970 - 1987) he was a member of Izard Weston and Company, Watts and Paterson and the Crown Law Office. In April 1987 Justice Keane was appointed a district court judge and Taxation Review Authority. He was seconded to the Law Commission as a Law Commissioner in May 2001 and appointed a High Court judge in October 2003. Justice Keane is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Fogarty
Justice John Fogarty graduated LLB (Hons.) from the University of Canterbury in 1971 and LLM from the University of Toronto in 1974. Between 1974 and 1985 he practised in the firm of Weston Ward & Lascelles in Christchurch, becoming a partner of the firm in 1978. Justice Fogarty went to the bar in 1985, was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1990, and became a High Court judge in 2003. He is based at the Christchurch High Court.
The Honourable Justice MacKenzie
Justice Alan MacKenzie attended Otago University, graduating BA in 1966 and LLB in 1967. He joined Chapman Tripp & Co in Wellington in 1967 as a staff solicitor, moving to Stone Kurta & Co in 1970. He became a partner of the firm, now Stone & Co., in 1971 and gained an LLM 2nd class 1st div (Hons) the same year. He continued as a partner when the firm became Rudd Watts & Stone in 1983. In 2001 he became a barrister sole. He was appointed to the bench of the High Court in 2004 and is based at the Wellington High Court.
The Honourable Justice Miller
Justice Forrest Miller graduated LLB (Hons) from Otago University in 1981 and LLM from the University of Toronto in 1997. Initially he worked for the Alexandra firm of Bodkins Solicitors and in 1984 moved to Wellington to join Chapman Tripp, becoming a partner in 1987. He had a wide general practice in commercial and public law litigation, specialising in securities, regulatory and competition law. Justice Miller was appointed to the High Court Bench in February 2004 and is based at the Wellington High Court.
The Honourable Justice Cooper
Justice Mark Cooper studied law at the University of Auckland, graduating LLB (Hons), MJur (Dist) and winning the Fowlds prize in law in 1979. He commenced practice with the firm Butler White & Hanna, which later merged into Simpson Grierson, and was principal legal advisor for the Auckland City, North Shore City and Rodney District Councils, advising on a wide range of laws affecting local government, including resource management, rates and valuation. Justice Cooper became a barrister sole in 1997, and was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 2000. He was appointed to the High Court bench in Auckland in 2004.
The Honourable Justice Winkelmann
Justice Helen Winkelmann graduated BA, LLB from the University of Auckland in 1984 and was admitteed to the bar in 1985. She was a partner at Phillips Fox from 1988 until she began practice as a barrister sole in May 2001, specialising in insolvency and commercial litigation. Justice Winkelmann was appointed a High Court judge in July 2004 and is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Allan
Justice Christopher Allan studied law at Auckland University, graduating LLB in 1965. He obtained the degree of LLM (Hons) in 1967. He joined Rudd Garland & Horrocks in November 1963 and became a partner in April 1970. That firm became part of the national firm then known as Rudd Watts & Stone. He served on a number of Auckland District Law Society committees over many years. Justice Allan was senior litigation partner at Minter Ellison Rudd Watts at the time of his appointment as a judge of the High Court in 2004. He is based in the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Courtney
Justice Patricia Courtney graduated LLB from the University of Auckland in 1982. She joined the Department of Trade & Industry as an investigating officer in November 1982 and in 1983 became a staff solicitor at Heaney Jones & Mason. In 1986 Justice Courtney moved to McElroy Milne and became a partner of the firm in 1989. In 1992 she was a founding partner of the firm of McElroys and was senior partner from 1998 until her appointment as a High Court judge in 2004. Justice Courtney is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Simon France
Justice Simon France graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland and worked briefly as a solicitor at Nicholson Gribbin before undertaking overseas study culminating in an LLM from Queen's University, Ontario in 1983. In 1984 Justice France joined Victoria University of Wellington as a lecturer, later becoming senior lecturer and at various times dean of students and deputy dean of the law faculty. In 1995 he moved to the Crown Law Office as a Crown Counsel, becoming team leader to the human rights team in 2002. Justice France was appointed a High Court judge in January 2005 and is based in Wellington.
The Honourable Justice Asher
Justice Raynor Asher graduated BA LLB (Hons) Auckland Law School in 1972, Senior Scholar in Law. He was the New Zealand Harkness Fellow to the United States in 1973-74 and graduated LLM, University of California (Berkeley) in 1974. Justice Asher was a partner at Kensington Haynes & White and Kensington Wallace, (later Kensington Swan) from 1976-86, and in 1986 commenced practice as a barrister. In 1992 he was appointed Queen's Counsel. From 1996-98 he was President of the New Zealand Bar Association, and then President of the Auckland District Law Society between 2002 and 2003. He took on the appointment of Vice President, New Zealand Law Society from 2003-05 and was appointed to the High Court bench in 2005. Justice Asher is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Lang
Justice Graham Lang attended Otago University and graduated LLB (Hons) (1st Class) in 1980. He was awarded the New Zealand Law Society's Cleary Memorial Prize in 1981. Justice Lang was a staff solicitor at Robinson Toomey & Partners, Napier from 1980, becoming a partner of the firm in 1982. In 1987 he moved to partnership at Elvidge & Partners, and was appointed Crown Solicitor at Napier from 1995 to 2002. He was appointed a master (now associate judge) of the High Court in April 2002 and became a judge of the High Court in August 2005. He is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Clifford
Justice Denis Clifford graduated LLB (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington in 1978. He joined the Wellington law firm Buddle Anderson Kent & Co, leaving in 1980 to take up a position as Visiting Fellow at the University of Illinois Law School. Justice Clifford returned to New Zealand to work for Buddle Findlay in 1982, went overseas again in 1984, working with London firm Slaughter and May, and on return to New Zealand in 1986 became a partner of Buddle Findlay, a position he held until 2001. From 1998 to 2000 Justice Clifford was on secondment from his law firm as a member of the Policy Advisory Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Justice Clifford joined the independent bar in 2002. He took appointment to the High Court Bench in April 2006 and is based at the Wellington High Court.
The Honourable Justice Andrews
Justice Pamela Andrews graduated with an LLB from Victoria University of Wellington in 1982. Prior to undertaking her law degree, she had worked in a number of roles including with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, External Aid Division, and as a translator in Bern, Switzerland. She initially joined the Wellington law firm Luke Cunningham and Clere, moving to Kensington Swan in 1985. She became a partner of the firm in 1988, and a consultant from 2002. Justice Andrews became a part-time member of the Refugee Status Appeals Authority from July 2003. She was a co-author of Civil Litigation Practice and Procedure, a Brookers publication, and is based at the Auckland High Court.
The Honourable Justice Stevens
Justice Lynton Stevens graduated BA LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1970, and obtained a Bachelor of Civil Law from Oxford University in 1972. He was Crown prosecutor and a partner at Meredith Connell & Co from 1975, leaving to join Russell McVeagh McKenzie Bartleet & Co as a partner in 1980. In 1992, Justice Stevens went to the Bar and he was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997. During his career he was also admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the Australian Capital Territory and the States of Victoria and New South Wales and was also a barrister in Samoa and the Cook Islands. He was appointed to the High Court Bench in July 2006 and is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Mallon
Justice Jillian Mallon graduated LLB Hons from Otago University in 1988 and LLM from Cornell University in 1993. She joined the litigation team at Bell Gully in Wellington in 1988, becoming a partner of the firm in 1998. Justice Mallon specialised in general commercial litigation at Bell Gully with most recent emphasis on competition, media and public law. In addition, she taught competition law at Victoria University from 1999 to 2005 and was appointed an Honorary Fellow of the University in 2005. Justice Mallon was appointed a judge of the High Court in July 2006 and she is based in Wellington.
The Honourable Justice Woodhouse
Justice Woodhouse graduated from Auckland University. He joined the law firm Glaister Ennor & Kiff, becoming a partner in that firm in 1976. Justice Woodhouse joined the independent bar in 1993 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002. Justice Woodhouse was appointed a Judge in 2007 and is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Duffy
Justice Duffy graduated LLM (Hons) from Auckland University. Justice Duffy first practised as a solicitor at the Grey Lynn Neighbourhood Law Office from 1981 to 1985. She became head solicitor in 1983. From 1985 to 1988 she practised as a barrister in Auckland. Between 1988 and 1996 she practised as Crown Counsel at the Crown Law Office. From 1991 to 1996 she was team leader of the Crown Law Office commercial regulatory team. Justice Duffy returned to the independent bar in 1996 and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1998. She practised in civil and public law. Justice Duffy also conducted a number of statutory committees of inquiry including serving as the Chair of the Ministerial Committee of Inquiry into the Under-reporting of Cervical Smear Abnormalities in the Gisborne region. Justice Duffy was appointed a Judge in 2007 and is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Dobson
The Hon Justice Dobson was educated in Gisborne and completed his LLB degree in 1971. He became a partner in Stone and Co in 1976 (now Minter Ellison) until 1990 when he became a barrister sole, being appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 1998. He has been a member of various Law Society committees and was president of the New Zealand Bar Association from 2002-2004. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 2007 and is based in Wellington.
The Honourable Justice French
The Hon Justice French was educated in Invercargill and achieved an LLB (Hons) degree from the University of Otago in 1981. She was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford (United Kingdom) and graduated BCL in 1983. On return to New Zealand she practised in the legal firm of French Burt Partners in Invercargill. She has been a member of various Law Society committees. Justice French was appointed a High Court Judge in 2008 and is based in Christchurch.
The Honourable Justice Wylie
The Hon Justice Wylie achieved his LLB degree (First Class Honours) from University of Canterbury (New Zealand) in 1975 and PhD in Administrative Law from University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) in 1980. He became a partner in Ronaldson Averill & Co. in the same year and was a partner in Lane Neave Ronaldson from 1983 until 1990. He became a barrister sole in 1991 and was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2002. He was appointed a Judge in 2008 and is based in Auckland.
The Honourable Justice Joseph Williams
Justice Joseph Williams graduated LLB from Victoria University in 1986 and LLM (Hons.) in 1988 from the University of British Columbia. He was admitted to the Bar in 1988 and employed by Kensington Swan, Auckland in 1988, becoming a partner in 1992. He was a partner in the firm of Walters Williams from 1994 until 1999 before being appointed Chief Judge of the Maori Land Court in December 1999. Justice Joseph Williams has also held academic positions. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court on 15 September 2008. He is based in Wellington.
The Honourable Justice Ellis
Justice Ellis graduated BA (English major) from Victoria University in 1982 and LLB in 1986. She was admitted to the Bar in 1989 and was a Legal Advisor with the Law Reform division of the Department of Justice from 1987-1992 and a Senior solicitor in the litigation department of the firm of Chapman Tripp in Wellington from 1992-1996. Justice Ellis then joined the Crown Law Office and was employed as Crown Counsel in that office until her appointment as Director, Legal Services at the Ministry of Economic Development in 2004. In 2005 she rejoined Crown Law and in 2006 became the Team Leader of the Tax and Commercial Team and during 2008-2009 was the Manager of the Crown’s Structured Finance Litigation, before being appointed a Judge of the High Court on 1 November 2009. She is based in Auckland.
Associate Judges of the High Court
Associate Judge Faire
Associate Judge John Faire graduated LLB (Hons) from the University of Auckland in 1971 and joined the Hamilton law firm of Stace Hammond Grace and Partners as a common law partner. In 1972 he was admitted to the partnership of Stace Hammond Grace & Bishop and between 1972 and 1977 was also senior lecturer part-time at the Business Management Faculty, University of Waikato. Judge Faire was managing partner of Stace Hammond Grace and Partners when he joined the High Court bench as a master in June 1996. He became an associate judge of the High Court when the title changed in May 2004 and is based at the Auckland High Court.
Associate Judge Gendall
Associate Judge David Gendall graduated LLB (Hons) from Victoria University of Wellington in 1973. Previously he worked as a law clerk at Luke Cunningham & Clere, and then Buddle Anderson & Co in Wellington. In 1974 he joined the Hamilton law firm of Chapman Feenstra & Cartwright, and in 1975 was admitted to the partnership of that firm (later McCaw Lewis Chapman). In 1988 he retired from partnership and joined the Law School at the University of Waikato as a senior lecturer. He was appointed dean of the law school in 2000, and then joined the High Court bench as a master in March 2002. He became an associate judge of the High Court when the title changed in May 2004 and is based at the Wellington High Court.
Associate Judge Doogue
Associate Judge Jeremy Doogue graduated LLB from the University of Auckland in 1973. He was employed by McCaw Lewis Chapman, Solicitors of Hamilton from 1974 and was a partner of the firm for eight years before taking up sole practice as a barrister from 1987. In 1996 he was appointed a district court judge based in Auckland. Judge Doogue was Executive Judge, Northern Region, district courts from 1999 to 2002, standing in as Acting Chief District Court Judge for various periods form 2002 to 2004. He became an associate judge of the High Court in December 2005 and is based at the Auckland High Court.
Associate Judge Robinson
Associate Judge Robinson graduated LLB from Auckland University and went into a partnership practice with his father and Mr AG Morgan-Coakle. The practice consisted mainly of general litigation including Family Criminal and civil litigation. He was appointed a District Court Judge in 1983 first at Manukau and then transferred to Auckland. He was a Family Court Judge from 1983 until 2006. Judge Robinson became an Associate Judge of the High Court in 2007 and is based at the Auckland High Court.
