The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Johnston, Alexander James
Johnston, Alexander James, late Judge of the Supreme Court, New Zealand, eldest son of James S. Johnston, of Wood Hill, Kinnellar, co. Aberdeen, was born at Aberdeen on Jan. 15th, 1820, and educated at Marischal College, at King's College, London, and in Paris. He entered at Lincoln's Inn on Nov. 12th, 1838, and went to the Middle Temple on Dec 21st, 1842, being called to the bar on Jan. 27th, 1848. From 1843 to 1858 he practised on the northern circuit, and was Deputy-Recorder of Leeds in 1857. In 1855 he was selected as Puisne Judge of New Zealand, and arrived in the colony in the same year. Till 1875 he lived at Wellington, but subsequently in Christchurch. In 1867 and in 1884 he acted as Chief Justice. He was a member of the Statute Law Consolidation Commission in 1879. Judge Johnston was the author of "New Zealand Justice of the Peace," 1863; "Treatise on Powers, etc., and Magistrates, etc., in the Colony of New Zealand," and of "Notes on Native Affairs," published at the instance of Sir D. McLean (q.v.). He died on June 6th, 1888, whilst on a visit to London.