The District Court bench has gained two seasoned legal minds.
Diedre Jane Orchard, a Christchurch barrister and solicitor, has been appointed District Court judge, while Allan Christopher Roberts, a retired District Court judge, will return to the bench as acting judge.
Orchard is currently an associate at Raymond Donnelly & Co. She was admitted to the bar in 1976 after finishing her law degree from the
University of Canterbury. She practiced as a barrister specialising in criminal defence work between 1986 and 2005, the Law Society said.
Her appointment takes effect 13 December. The judge, who will have a warrant to conduct jury trials, will be based in Whangarei.
Roberts will commence as an acting District Court judge on 30 January 2018 on a two-year term. He was appointed District Court judge in April 2007 and retired from the bench in January 2016.
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