Two Acting District Court Judges have been appointed and both will hold Family Court warrants.

Rangiora barrister and solicitor John Brandts-Giesen has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge in Invercargill.

Mr Brandts-Giesen was admitted in October 1975 and began practice as a staff solicitor for Christchurch law firm Raymond Donnelly in 1976. He became a partner in the firm now known as Lane Neave in 1980 before joining the partnership Brandts-Giesen McCormick Lawyers in 1994.

Mr Brandts-Giesen has primarily practised family law, including conducting relationship property and care of children cases and numerous appointments as lawyer for the child.

Judge Brandts-Giesen will be sworn in on 5 August 2016 in Christchurch.

Oamaru barrister and solicitor Catriona Doyle has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge in Wellington.

Ms Doyle was admitted in May 1993 and commenced practice as a staff solicitor at Hutt Valley law firm Burridge & Co in before joining Thomas Dewar Sziranyi Druce. In 1998 she became a Director of Family Law Specialists Ltd before moving to Hope and Associates in 2015.

Ms Doyle has practised family law in the District Court and High Court, including appointments as lawyer for the child and counsel to assist the court. She has experience in Hague Convention work and was a member of the New Zealand Law Society's Family Law Section executive for a number of years.

Judge Doyle will be sworn in on 18 August 2016 in Wellington.