Committee to look into judicial complaints

A NEW public complaints investigation procedure for court staff, both judicial and non-judicial, was launched at the Waigani National Court House last Friday.
Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia said these procedures enabled complaints made against court staff to be investigated in a transparent, fair and effective manner.
“This procedure is the first of its kind to be put in place in the judiciary,” Sir Salamo said.
The public complaints investigation procedure was launched in collaboration with the new Fraud and Corruption Track of the National Court Crimes Division.  
“Up until now, there have been no internal investigative procedures in place within the judiciary that make provision of complaints made against court staff to be investigated internally in order for appropriate action to be recommended or taken,” Sir Salamo said. 
A complaints committee, known as the Judiciary Complaints Committee (JCC) has been established.
Its main focus is to receive investigate complaints in respect of any judicial staff and make appropriate recommendations to the appropriate authorities in the judiciary. 
The JCC includes Justice Ere Kariko, who is the chairman. The two other members are the deputy registrar (National Court) Samuel Ikiso and deputy secretary for the National Judiciary Staff Services (NJSS) Anna Nenta.
Complaints can be made against judges, judges’ associates and their staff. 
The Office of JCC is located at the ground floor of the Supreme Court building in Waigani.