JONATHAN DOWN

Jonathan Down is the Public Defender, situated in Auckland. His career in the Criminal Justice system spans 28 years and commenced in the Police Force of his home County of Kent in England. His career took an unexpected change of direction when retirement due to injury forced a rethink. Jonathan took his love of the law and built a new career as a successful Barrister on the Midland and Oxford Circuit; operating from Chambers in Fountain Court, Birmingham. At 45 he and his family fulfilled a dream of emigrating to New Zealand. For the first few years Jonathan worked as a senior prosecutor and Associate of the Auckland Crown Solicitor. After a brief foray into the Auckland Defence Bar, he was appointed as the new Public Defender in December 2008.