Six judges appointed

 SIX judges have been appointed for the National Court and Supreme Court by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission.

Justice Minister and Attorney-General Ano Pala said the three new permanent judges appointed were Fraser Pitpit, Kenneth Frank and Hitelai Polume Kiele. 

Justice George Manuhu, Justice Allan David and acting judge Justice Leka Nablu had their terms renewed. 

They will be sworn in by Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio on Thursday. 

Pala said the appointments brought the total number of acting and permanent judges to 37. 

He said they would strengthen the judiciary’s capacity to deal with the backlog of cases.

“The new appointments will enable the National Court to expand its operations to the provinces by having a sufficient number of judges in the provinces to conduct court circuits and sittings,” Pala said.

Manuhu and David would serve a second 10-year term. Both were appointed as judges in 2005. 

Nablu will serve her second 12-month term as acting judge.  Pitpit, Kiele and Kenneth will serve a 10-year term as judges. 

Pitpit from Meli village, Lou island on Manus served most of his legal practice in the Public Solicitor’s office. He served as Public Solicitor for 12 years until his term expired last year. 

Kiele from Loniu village on Manus graduated from the University of PNG Law School in 1985 and was admitted to the bar in 1986. 

She spent 18 years with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General and held senior administrative positions including acting Solicitor-General and acting Secretary for 

Justice. 

She holds a Masters Degree in Law from the University of Melbourne and was studying for her doctorate at Sydney University at the time of her appointment.  

Frank was born in Lorengau on Manus. 

He graduated form the University of PNG Law School in 1989 and was admitted to the bar in 1990. 

He was practising with Young and Williams Lawyers at the time of his appointment.