Judicial and Legal Service Commission

Mamu’s appointment comes following incumbent Public Solicitor, Jim Wala Tamate’s swearing in on Tuesday to the National and Supreme Court bench. Justice Tamate will be based at Waigani.

Minister for Justice and Attorney General and Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, Davis Steven, said Mr Mamu will act as Public Solicitor while the position is being advertised.

He said the commission, in its meeting, considered potential candidates within the office of the Public Solicitor and the majority resolved to appoint Mamu.

 The adjournment was allowed after Sir Bernard’s lawyer, Loani Henao, informed the tribunal he had no materials before him to assist the tribunal.

He said he is yet to formally receive a reference or any charge laid against Sir Bernard despite chairman of the tribunal, Justice Sir Bruce Robertson, saying he was notified by the Judicial and Legal service Commission in the second week of August.

Henao asked for a three week adjournment as he did not receive a formal notice of the tribunal and did not know what was before the tribunal.

Justice Cannings was sworn in this morning at the Government house by Governor General Sir Michael Ogio, in the presence of his fellow brother judges and the media.

Deputy Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora, Justice Allan David and Justice Les Gavara-Nanu attended the event.

The swearing-in today comes after Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission and Attorney General Ano Pala, re-appointed Justice Cannings for another three years commencing June 24, 2016.

The appointment of the five acting judges will bring the total number of judges to 43.

The five  new judges will be officially sworn into office at a later date.

The appointment of the five acting judges was announced by the Chairman of the Judicial and Legal Service Commission and Minister for Justice and Attorney General Ano Pala following a meeting last month.

This will help strengthen the judiciary’s capacity in dealing with the backlog of cases pending before the courts, especially those criminal cases.