Judges swearing in this week

The official swearing in ceremony for six judges to the Supreme and National Courts will take place this week at Government House.

Set for Thursday, the ceremony will see the renewal of three judicial judges and three new judges being  sworn in.

This will see Frazer Pitpit, Hitelai Polume Kiele and Kenneth Frank all being sworn in as judges, adding to a total of 37 for the country.

The appointments of Pitpit, Kiele and Frank by the Attorney General and Chairman of Judicial and Legal Service Commission Ano Pala is for a period of 10 years

Frazer Pitpit is the former Public Solicitor and is from Meli village, Lou Island, Manus Province.

Pitpit has practised law for more than 30 years and was the Public Solicitor for a total of 12 years.

Hitelai Polume Kiele of Loniu village, Manus Province spent 18 years with the Department of Justice and Attorney General before her appointment on May 8.

Kiele holds a Master’s degree in Law from the University of Melbourne and was studying for her doctorate in Philosophy at Sydney University under an AUSAID program when she was appointed.

Kenneth Frank also of Lorengau, Manus Province was practising with Young and Williams Lawyers at the time of his appointment and has previously appeared as counsel in many civil and commercial cases.

Meanwhile Justice George Manuhu and Justice Allan David have also been reappointed as full time judges of the Supreme and National Court for their second 10 year term.

Acting Judge Leka Nablu who was first appointed an acting judge on June 6, 2014 has been re-appointed Acting Judge for a second 12 month term.