John McGrath (judge)

Sir John McGrath
Justice of the Supreme Court
In office
2005โ€“2015
Solicitor-General of New Zealand
In office
1989โ€“2000
Prime MinisterDavid Lange, Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark
Preceded byPaul Neazor
Succeeded byTerence Arnold
Personal details
Born
John Joseph McGrath

(1945-03-10)10 March 1945
Wellington, New Zealand
Died19 October 2018(2018-10-19) (aged 73)
Wellington, New Zealand
SpouseChristine Anne Swallow
RelationsDenis McGrath (father)

Sir John Joseph McGrath KNZM QC (10 March 1945 โ€“ 19 October 2018) was a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, serving in that role from 2005 until 2015.[1] He was also a judge of the Court of Appeal from 2000 to 2005, and the Solicitor-General of New Zealand from 1989 to 2000.

Career

Born in Wellington, McGrath attended Wanganui Collegiate School and graduated with an LL.M. from Victoria University of Wellington in 1968. He was a partner in Buddle Findlay, in Wellington, until he moved to the separate bar in 1984. He became Queen's Counsel in 1987 and he was Solicitor-General between 1989 and 2000. McGrath was appointed to the Court of Appeal in July 2000 and to the Supreme Court in May 2005.[2] In the 2007 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Appeal and Supreme Courts.[3] In 2009, following the re-introduction of titular honours by the New Zealand government, McGrath accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit.[4] McGrath died in Wellington on 19 October 2018 at the age of 73.[5]

References

  1. ^ Hon Justice McGrath, Final Sitting Speech, Friday 6 March 2015 Archived 16 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 13 March 2015)
  2. ^ Judge profiles courtsofnz.govt.nz Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "New Year honours list 2007". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 30 December 2006. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  4. ^ "Special honours list 1 August 2009". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. ^ "Sir John McGrath has died", New Zealand Law Society, 23 October 2018 (Retrieved 23 October 2018)

Sources