Kandakasi appointed deputy CJ

By JEFFREY ELAPA
National and Supreme Court judge Justice Ambeng Kandakasi, pictured, has been appointed deputy chief justice.
His appointment was announced by Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven, who is also chairman of the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.
Steven made the announcement yesterday after the commission appointed Justice Kandakasi during its appointment meeting.
He said the appointment of Justice Kandakasi came a day before newly-appointed Chief Justice Sir Gibbs Salika’s ceremonial sitting.
“The appointment of Justice Kandakasi as the national deputy chief justice is made following consideration of a submission from the chief justice and after consultation with all relevant agencies,” Steven said.
“We are confident and trust Justice Kandakasi is an outstanding citizen worthy of the office of deputy chief justice.
“He will support the chief justice in the administration and delivery of justice services to the people of Papua New Guinea.”
Justice Kandakasi was appointed as the deputy chief justice of the Supreme and National Courts on Dec 13, 2018, for a term of 10 years.
“On behalf of the Judicial Legal Services Commission, I congratulate Justice Kandakasi on his appointment and pray God’s blessing in the discharge of his office to which he has been appointed,” Steven said.
Justice Kandakasi was admitted as a judge of the National and Supreme courts of justice of PNG in 2000 and is now one of the senior serving judges (about 18 years).
He holds a Master of Law from the University of San Diego, USA, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of PNG.
Justice Kandakasi is accredited as a mediator in Australia, New Zealand and PNG.
Before his appointment as a judge, he was a partner of the firm of Young and Williams Lawyers and before that he taught law at the University of PNG.
Justice Kandakasi is the chairman of the alternate dispute resolution committee and the soon-to-be-called mediation and arbitration committee.
He will also be chairing the international mediation and arbitration conference in PNG in March next year.
Justice Kandakasi comes from Enga.