Wellington lawyer James Johnston has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge with a jury warrant to be based in Wellington.

Mr Johnston is Chairman of Partners at Wellington firm Rainey Collins Lawyers. He was admitted in May 1989 and joined the firm that year. He has been a partner since 1994.

Before becoming a commercial lawyer, Mr Johnston was a litigator dealing mainly with Treaty of Waitangi claims. He has also appeared in the District Courts and High Court on a variety of criminal and Family Court matters. He is of Ngati Porou descent.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson says Mr Johnston will be involved in the Rangatahi Courts. These courts are a judicial initiative which operate within the existing Youth Court framework but use a marae-based environment to help young Māori and their whānau engage with the justice system.

Mr Johnston will be sworn in on 10 June 2016 in Wellington.