Justice Winkelmann promoted to Court of Appeal

Justice Helen Winkelmann has been promoted to the Court of Appeal and her colleague Justice Geoffrey Venning is now the new Chief High Court Judge.

Attorney-General Chris Finlayson announced the appointments yesterday afternoon.

A former partner of Phillips Fox, Auckland-based Justice Winkelmann was made a High Court judge in 2004 and became the boss of that particular bench in 2010.

She will move to the Court of Appeal, in Wellington, and take up the position as of June 1.

Some high-profile cases Justice Winkelman has decided include the legality of the raid on Kim Dotcom's mansion in 2012.

Her replacement, Justice Venning, was made a master of the High Court in 1995 and moved to Auckland in 2002 when he was appointed a High Court Judge.

One of his more high-profile cases include the Bridgecorp finance company prosecution in 2011/12.

The appointments will mean a modest pay rise for the pair.

A judge of the Court of Appeal receives $444,000 a year while a Chief High Court Judge gets $442,500.

This is some $20,000 more than other High Court judges.