Friday 10 May 2024
Governor-General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae (centre), Minister for Justice and Attorney-General, Hon Pila Niningi (third from right),Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika (third from left), with the newly appointed Judges and Acting Solicitor General. (photo: Government House).
The Governor-General, Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, yesterday (9 May), officiated at the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Solicitor General and three judges of the Supreme and National Courts of Papua New Guinea.
The Judicial and Legal Services Commission has appointed E’ava Geita as acting Solicitor General “awaiting due process to appoint the Solicitor General.”
The Judicial and Legal Services Commission have also appointed Laura Wawun-Kuvi, Karen Carmody and Stephen Patrick Coates as judges of the Supreme and National Courts.
Appointment for Justice Laura Wawun-Kuvi is for a period of 10 years, and 3 years each for Justice Karen Carmody and Justice Stephen Patrick Coates.
The newly appointed judges recited before the Governor -General the Declaration of Office, Declaration of Loyalty and Judicial Declaration.
Mr. E’ava Geita recited before the Governor General the Declaration of Office appointing him as acting Solicitor General.
Justice Laura Wawun-Kuvi has 20 years of experience in the judicial sector having served in the Office of the State Solicitor, and as a Magistrate and an acting judge of the Supreme and National courts.
Justice Karen Carmody has 30 years of experience in the Australian Judiciary having served as a Queensland Barrister and in the last 10 years, had taught at the Legal Training Institute in Port Moresby, while Justice Stephen Patrick Coates, from Brisbane Australia, has served the Australian Judiciary as a judge for the last 17 years.
Minister for Justice and Attorney General Hon. Pila Niningi, commended the new judges on their appointment.
He paid tribute to the Marape-Rosso Government for the confidence and support provided through funding and resourcing for the Judiciary, Magisterial Services and State Law Offices in the dispensation of justice.
“This an assurance to the people of Papua New Guinea that the three arms of Government are working together and are serious about your right to efficient access to justice and this is one such initiatives.”
The Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika was also present at the swearing-in ceremony at Government House yesterday.