Appointments unlawful-Law Society

The Fiji Law Society maintains that all appointments to the judiciary after 5th December, 2006 are unlawful.

While explaining the reasons on why the society did not attend the opening of the Fiji Court of Appeal on Tuesday, Law Society President, Isireli Fa said since events of December 2006, the unlawful appointments continue and legal action has been taken to stop the process.

Fa said the society has reservations about the appointments to the Fiji Court of Appeal as these appointments were made without the participation of the Fiji Law Society at the Judicial Service Commission meeting. He said the society was not invited to these meetings and as a result had no input in these judicial appointments.

The Law Society calls on the interim government to immediately restore parliamentary democracy to allow judges of the highest caliber to sit on the bench of the Fiji Court of Appeal.

Fa has also requested the Acting Chief Justice, Anthony Gates to refrain from making any further appointments to any of the courts until the legality of the events of 2006 are determined, in particular the method of appointment of judges under the current setup of the Judicial Services Commission.

Interim Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum who opened the Fiji Court of Appeal session is expected to comment later today.