Philip Cooke (judge)

Philip Brunskill Cooke MC QC (3 January 1893 – 11 November 1956) was a New Zealand judge and decorated WWI veteran.

[2] His maternal grandfather was Dr Francis Alexander Monckton, a doctor and entrepreneur from Southland who was later mayor of Feilding.

[2][8] Aged 36, Cooke had the opportunity to be appointed the country's youngest ever judge, but he declined for a variety of reasons.

He was succeeded in the honour of being the youngest appointee by his son, Robin Cooke, who was aged 38 when he received his appointment in 1964.

[2] Cooke volunteered at Army Headquarters during World War II for a year before he gave up his practice completely.