Wellington barrister appointed High Court judge

Attorney-General Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court judge.

McHerron's legal journey commenced with his graduation from the University of Otago, where he earned a BA in English literature in 1994, followed by an LLB in 1996. His professional experience includes a stint as a solicitor at Russell McVeagh in Wellington from 1996 to 1999, where he worked across various teams, including litigation, commercial, and public law.

Subsequently, McHerron transitioned to Crown Law in 1999, serving as counsel specialising in general public law litigation and advisory matters until 2006, when he ventured into independent practice. Initially, he practised at Waterfront Chambers in Wellington, focusing on public law and commercial litigation. Since 2014, he has been associated with Woodward Street Chambers, also in Wellington.

In addition to his legal practice, McHerron served as an investigator with the Gas Industry Co from 2010 to 2018, handling inquiries into alleged rule breaches by industry participants and facilitating settlements for approval by the Rulings Panel. He has also contributed to the Motor Vehicle Disputes Tribunal as a part-time adjudicator since 2015. Furthermore, he served as a member of the Rules Committee from 2018 to 2023, representing the New Zealand Law Society.

McHerron’s appointment to the High Court judge position will take effect on 19 March 2024, with his jurisdiction primarily in Wellington.