Christchurch Queen’s Counsel, Jonathan Eaton, has been appointed a Judge of the High Court, and Auckland Barrister and Solicitor, Clive Taylor, has been appointed an Associate Judge of the High Court, Attorney‑General David Parker announced today.
Justice Eaton graduated with an LLB from the University of Canterbury in 1986, and started practice as a junior solicitor with Cunningham Taylor in Christchurch.
Between 1988 and 1991 he practised civil litigation in London before returning to New Zealand and joining Christchurch law firm Wood Marshall in 1991. In 1994 Justice Eaton joined the Christchurch Crown Solicitor’s office, Raymond Donnelly.
He spent three years as a senior prosecutor, before joining the independent bar in 1998, where he specialised in criminal defence trial and appellate litigation. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2013.
Justice Eaton will sit in Christchurch.
Associate Judge Taylor graduated from the University of Auckland with a BSc in 1976 and an LLB(Hons) in 1981, and spent two years with a boutique Corporate London law firm before returning to Auckland in 1984 to join Bell Gully’s Corporate Department as a Senior Staff Solicitor.
In 1985 he joined the partnership of Holmden Horrocks & Co, spending three years in their Corporate Department. He re‑joined Bell Gully in 1988 as a Senior Associate, becoming a partner in 1989.
Associate Judge Taylor retired from the partnership in 2014 and continued to practise at Bell Gully as a Consultant until 2021.
Associate Judge Taylor will sit in Auckland.
