New District Court Judges appointed

Attorney-General Hon Chris Bishop has announced the appointment of 4 new District Court Judges.  

The appointees will take up their roles in July and October, filling vacancies at the Dunedin, Timaru and Auckland Courts.  

Those taking up appointment to the District Court are:

Maurice John Casey

Mr Casey has over 25 years’ experience in Family Law, including childcare disputes, relationship property, elderly care and mental health law. His experience encompasses relationship property matters, family protections claims, care of children, relocation, Hague convention proceedings, Mental Health Law and Elder Welfare Law. 

He has held appointment as Lawyer for Child for over 10 years and has also been appointed as Lawyer to assist the Court.  In January 2024, Mr Casey left partnership in the Napier law firm Carlie Dowling and is now a barrister sole, practising in Family Law and mediation.     

Judge Casey will be based at the Timaru District Court and is due to be sworn in on 30 July 2026.

Bryony Ann Millar

Ms Millar has been a Barrister Sole since 2007 based in Blenheim.  She manages a diverse practice which includes, family, relationship property and youth advocate work as well as handling criminal matters.  

She has been Counsel for Subject Person since 2013 and lawyer for Child since 2007, a member of the Crown prosecution Panel from 2011 to 2016 and a member of the Children, Young Persons and their Families/Oranga Tamariki, Blenheim Care and Protection Panel from 2008 to 2020.  

Ms Millar was the first woman President of the Marlborough Branch of the NZLS and a Standards Committee member from 2017 to 2020.

Judge Millar will be based at the Dunedin District Court and is due to be sworn in on 13 July 2026.

Tiffany Mary Cooper, KC

Ms Cooper started her career practising commercial and civil law and has been a litigator since 2004 when she began work at Hamilton Crown Solicitor Almao Douch. This was followed by a move to Meredith Connell in 2005 where she was a Senior Associate before joining the independent bar in 2014. Her Auckland based practice now primarily consists of criminal defence work. 

While her practice specialises in sexual assault cases, Ms Cooper represents clients in all criminal matters including drug and homicide cases. She regularly represents clients in appeals against conviction and sentence and was appointed as a Kings Counsel in 2022.

Judge Cooper will be based at the Auckland District Court and is due to be sworn in on 29 July 2026.

Erin Lee Woolley

Coroner Woolley was appointed as a relief coroner in October 2020, becoming a permanent coroner in November 2022.  

Her background is as a criminal prosecutor and she was an associate at Meredith Connell from 2013 to 2020. She also has expertise in advising public and private-sector entities on regulatory compliance issues and previously worked for a law firm in the United Kingdom where she advised large multinational companies, providing advice on regulatory aspects of their business.  

Judge Woolley will be based at the Auckland District Court and is due to be sworn in on 6 October 2026. ...