Tauranga Queen's Counsel Paul Mabey has been appointed an Acting District Court Judge, with a jury warrant to be based initially in Tauranga then in Rotorua.

Paul practised as a litigation solicitor for 18 years in Christchurch, Palmerston North and Tauranga before joining the independent bar conducting criminal and general litigation in 1994.

Newly appointed Acting District Court Judge Paul Mabey. File photo.

In 2000 Paul was appointed Queen's Counsel and has since specialised in criminal law.

Over the years he's handled a number of high profile local cases and represented the likes of Phil Rudd, Brendan Horan, and the Daina Shipping Company which owned The Rena.

Paul is also a former chair of Tauranga Girls' College Board of Trustees and is currently President of the New Zealand Bar Association.

Attorney-General Christopher Finlayson says Judge Mabey will be sworn in on April 28 in Tauranga.