The Honourable Justice Francis Cooke

Justice Cooke became the third generation of his family to be appointed to the bench.  Justice Cooke graduated LLB (Hons) from Victoria University in 1989 and LLM from the University of Cambridge, UK in 1990.  He was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1990 and after a period of working in London with the international law firm Ashurst Morris Crisp as a foreign solicitor, was employed by Chapman Tripp from 1992-94.  He went to the independent bar in 1994 and was appointed a Queen’s Counsel in 2004.  Justice Cooke was appointed a High Court Judge on 24 April 2018. His appointment as a Judge of the Court of Appeal took effect on 19 March 2024.

Justice Cooke was appointed to the Supreme Court in February 2026.