John McGrath (judge)

The Honourable Sir John McGrath KNZM QC
Justice of the Supreme Court
In office 2005–2015
Solicitor-General of New Zealand
In office 1989–2000
Prime Minister	David Lange, Geoffrey Palmer, Mike Moore, Jim Bolger, Jenny Shipley, Helen Clark
Preceded by	Paul Neazor QC
Succeeded by	Terence Arnold QC
Personal details
Born	John Joseph McGrath (1945-03-10) 10 March 1945 Wellington, New Zealand
Spouse(s)	Christine Anne Swallow

Sir John Joseph McGrath, KNZM, QC (born 10 March 1945 in Wellington, New Zealand) was a Judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand (2005-2015) and, previously, of the Court of Appeal (2000-2005). He was the Solicitor-General of New Zealand from 1989 to 2000.

Career

McGrath graduated with a LLM 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. In 2007 he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. The appointment was redesignated Knight Companion of that Order in 2009.

Sources

• National Business Review, Arise Sir... or Dame... for 70 on honours list, by Nevil Gibson, 1 August 2009 (accessed 8:17PM 1 November 2009)
• kiwisfirst.co.nz Profile
• Hon Justice McGrath, Final Sitting Speech, Friday 6 March 2015 (Retrieved 13 March 2015)