District Court Judge Appointed
Attorney-General Michael Cullen today announced the appointment of Keith de Ridder of Paraparaumu as a District Court
Judge. Mr de Ridder will be sworn in on 5 August in Palmerston North and will sit in Whangarei.
Mr de Ridder has been the common law partner in the Levin law firm of Cullinane Steele since 1987. He has been engaged
in criminal, civil and family litigation and general common law work, as well as residential and commercial
conveyancing.
Before joining Cullinane Steele in 1985 he had worked for 12 years in the legal sections of three government
departments. He has also been a Tenancy Adjudicator since 1993.
Mr de Ridder was President of the Manawatu District Law Society 2002-2003 and has served on other Law Society working
parties and project groups. He was also Convenor of the District Legal Aid Sub-Committee from 1997 to 2000.
He has served as a member of the Board of Trustees of Paraparaumu College and as both member and Chairperson of the
Board of Trustees of Kapiti Primary School.