Australian judges reappointed to Supreme Court

Two judges of the Federal Court of Australia have been re-appointed as judges of the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea.

Justice Berna Collier and Justice John Alexander Logan will now serve the PNG Justice System for another term; making it their 3rd term.

Their first engagement was in 2011 following an MoU signed between the Federal Court of Australia and PNG.    

Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Sir Salamo Injia, said Justice Collier and Justice Logan are serving judges of the Federal Court of Australia with speciality in civil and commercial litigation.

“Justice Collier and Justice Logan come to PNG every second month to help out with complex civil cases in the Supreme Court and to help out judges and the Court dispose of complex civil appeals in the Supreme Court.”

Justice Collier said she very much enjoyed coming to PNG.

“Last year, the Pacific Judges Conference was held, and it was patently obvious then that the Supreme Court of PNG has taken its place in the Courts of the world as a serious and senior Court.

“I very much enjoy coming to PNG, the relationship between PNG and Australia is obviously critical for both our nations. I’ll do everything I can to help Australia and PNG.”

Justice Logan shared similar views, saying it was a particular privilege to serve both PNG and Australia.

He said the other feature of this appointment is the opportunity it gives to deepen coordinated neighbourly relations, particularly between the respective legal professions.

Apart from serving on the bench, the judges have been very active in providing support for the legal profession in terms of training young lawyers coming through the university and through the Legal Training Institute in the much-specialised area of litigation.

There are currently 7 non-citizen judges out of a total of 38 judges serving the Judiciary.

(Justice Berna Collier, left, and Justice John Alexander Logan with the Chief Justice of Papua New Guinea, Sir Salamo Injia)

Author: 
Charmaine Poriambep