Blenheim barrister and crown prosecutor Mike Turner has been appointed a Family Court judge by Attorney-General Chris Finlayson.
Mr Turner said he was looking forward to the new challenge.
"I'll be sad to leave [Blenheim], but balanced with that is the challenge of the career ahead. I've made a number of good friends in the area and I'll be keeping in touch with them."
Mr Turner has been a staff solicitor at the Auckland firms, Cairns Slane and Holmden Horrocks and Co, and a partner at Wisheart Macnab and Partners in Blenheim from 1985.
He left the practice in 1996 to set up sole practice as a barrister in Blenheim in criminal, family and civil law. He was appointed to several roles including senior youth advocate in the Youth Court.
He was admitted to the Bar in 1979 after graduating from Auckland University.
Lawyers wanting to become judges file an expression of interest and are interviewed by judges when a position become available.
The judges then make recommendations to the Attorney-General who decides who takes up the role.
Mr Turner will be sworn in at a ceremony on July 26 at the Blenheim District Court, which will be attended by judges from Wellington and Nelson. He made his last appearance as a barrister about two weeks ago.
He will later move to Invercargill after spending the rest of this year as a judge in Wellington. Mr Turner was to appeal Blenheim man Kevin King's manslaughter conviction at the Court of Appeal in Wellington in September, but the case will now be reassigned. He did not know who would take over.
Mr Turner will work in the family, criminal and civil courts.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG
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