11 May 2009

After long delays, Fiji judicial appointments now held up by lack of cabinet advice

9:53 am on 11 May 2009

Fiji's President Ratu Josefa Iloilo is awaiting the advice of Cabinet to appoint judges to the High Court according to the secretary to the President, Rupeni Nacewa.

The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says the decision to appoint high court judges will be made by the President's Office.

The Solicitor-General, Christopher Pryde, told Fijilive that all magistrate court appeals will be filed and dates for High Court hearings issued once the judges are appointed.

The government has since reopened the magistrate courts but is yet to employ the 10 High Court judges the President's judicial services decree stipulates are needed to run the superior courts.

The President sacked all judges a month ago after the appeal court declared the interim governemnt illegal.