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John McGrath

1945 – 2018

New Zealand judge

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About John McGrath

Lived 1945 – 2018 (aged 73). John McGrath was a New Zealand judge and lawyer.

Sir John Joseph McGrath (10 March 1945 – 19 October 2018) was a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, serving in that role from 2005 until 2015. He was also a judge of the Court of Appeal from 2000 to 2005, and the Solicitor-General of New Zealand from 1989 to 2000.

Career Born in Wellington, McGrath attended Wanganui Collegiate School and graduated with an LL.M. from Victoria University of Wellington in 1968. He was a partner in Buddle Findlay, in Wellington, until he moved to the separate bar in 1984. He became Queen's Counsel in 1987 and he was Solicitor-General between 1989 and 2000. McGrath was appointed to the Court of Appeal in July 2000 and to the Supreme Court in May 2005. In the 2007 New Year Honours, he was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to the Appeal and Supreme Courts. In 2009, following the re-introduction of titular honours by the New Zealand government, McGrath accepted redesignation as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. McGrath died in Wellington on 19 October 2018 at the age of 73.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Victoria University of Wellington, Whanganui Collegiate School
Positions held
King's Counsel, Solicitor-General of New Zealand
Awards
Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit; Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit‎; Honorary doctor of Victoria University of Wellington
Also known as
Sir John Joseph McGrath, John Joseph McGrath, Sir John McGrath

People in John McGrath's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped John McGrath's

Frequently asked questions

Who was John McGrath?

New Zealand judge (1945–2018)

When was John McGrath born?

John McGrath was born on 10 March 1945 in Wellington.

When did John McGrath die?

John McGrath died on 19 October 2018 in Wellington.

What was John McGrath's occupation?

John McGrath was a judge and lawyer.

What nationality was John McGrath?

John McGrath was New Zealand.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: John McGrath

· Wikidata: Q6247833

· DBpedia: John McGrath (judge)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). John McGrath. https://biography.guide/john-mcgrath/

MLA: "John McGrath." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/john-mcgrath/.

Chicago: "John McGrath." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/john-mcgrath/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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