New District Court Judge appointed

Auckland lawyer Claire Marie Ryan has been appointed a District Court Judge, Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson announced today.

Judge Ryan was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1985, the Federal Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of ACT in 1990 and the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1993. She has practised for over 26 years, including five years in Australia, working extensively in the areas of criminal law, family law and child protection.

She has regularly appeared in the Youth, District and High Courts and she has been the team leader for the Youth and Family Court team at Meredith Connell. She has also contributed as a director to the World Schools Debating Championships, Breast Screen Auckland and Baradene College.

Judge Ryan will be sworn in on 5 August 2011, at Auckland.