24 April 2026 Media Statement: Chief Justice welcomes judicial appointment

The Chief Justice welcomes the Attorney-General’s announcement today of the appointment of Associate Judge Rachel Sussock as a Judge of the High Court.

Justice Sussock will take up her appointment on 1 June 2026, and will sit in Auckland. She will be sworn in on Monday 8 June at the Auckland High Court.

Biography

Justice Sussock graduated from Victoria University of Wellington with an LLB(Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce and Administration in 1991 and began her career as a solicitor with Phillips Fox Wellington (now DLA Piper).

In 1993 she joined the Crown Law Office, working as an Assistant Crown Counsel and then Crown Counsel with the Public Commercial Team until 2001.

After a move to Auckland and time at home with her children, Justice Sussock resumed her career in 2008, joining commercial litigation firm, Wilson Harle, as Senior Associate. In 2018 she left to join Lowndes Jordan as a partner in the litigation team, practising in general commercial litigation with particular interest in insolvency, construction, trust and complex financial and regulatory disputes.

Justice Sussock was appointed an Associate Judge of the High Court in 2020.