The new judges will sit in the Manukau, Rotorua, and Invercargill courts
Three new judges have joined the District Court.
Matthew Nathan, Joanne Wickliffe and Mark Williams will commence in their new roles in July and August, according to Attorney-General Judith Collins.
Nathan has practised in Australia, taking on positions such as senior Crown prosecutor and Deputy Director Public Prosecutions. He joined Meredith Connell on his return to New Zealand in 2021, and made partner two years later.
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He will sit in Manukau court, and is set to be sworn in on 10 August.
A criminal law specialist, Wickliffe was admitted to the bar in 1999. She was a barrister sole for nine years before transitioning to a role with the Public Defence Service. She was a founding member of Auckland’s Pohutukawa Chambers.
She will sit in Rotorua, with her swearing-in ceremony set for 2 August.
Williams has practised in London, focusing on criminal law as both a prosecutor and defence counsel. After moving to New Zealand, he served as a mediator with Dispute Resolution Services in Auckland before joining Meredith Connell in 2011.
From 2014 to 2016, Williams served as GC for the NZ Serious Fraud Office before becoming a principal prosecutor with the Crown Solicitor’s office in Manukau (2017- 2021). More recently, he was a public defender for Manukau with the Public Defence Service.
He will be based in Invercargill and sworn in on 25 July.